According to Piaget, what does accommodation refer to?

In the context of Piaget's theory of cognitive development, accommodation refers to the process through which individuals adjust their existing cognitive schemas in response to new information or experiences that cannot be integrated into their existing frameworks. This adaptive process allows people to modify their understanding of the world when they encounter new situations that challenge their prior knowledge.

For instance, if a child has a schema that all four-legged animals are dogs, encountering a cat might prompt them to change this schema. Instead of forcing the new information to fit the old understanding, the child will adjust their schema to accommodate the new information, recognizing that there are different types of four-legged animals, thereby enhancing their overall cognitive development. This is essential for learning and helps individuals better navigate their environments as they grow and encounter increasingly complex situations. Accommodation, therefore, plays a critical role in effective learning and adaptation, as it enables a more nuanced and flexible understanding of experiences.