How does accommodation differ from assimilation?

Accommodation modifies cognitive ideas in response to new information. This process involves altering one's existing mental frameworks to incorporate new experiences that do not fit into current schemas. For example, if a child learns that not all four-legged animals are dogs, they might need to change their understanding of animals to include categories like cats or cows. This change demonstrates how accommodation actively evolves and reshapes an individual's cognitive structures.

On the other hand, assimilation refers to the process of integrating new information into existing schemas without changing those structures. For instance, when the same child encounters a cat for the first time, they may categorize it as a "dog" because they already have a framework for four-legged animals. Assimilation keeps the original cognitive ideas intact while simply expanding their application. Collectively, these concepts highlight the dynamic nature of learning where accommodation demands adaptation of thought, making option C the accurate choice in distinguishing the role of accommodation in cognitive development.