Which term best describes changing cognitive ideas based on new information?

The term that best describes changing cognitive ideas based on new information is accommodation. Accommodation refers to the process of adjusting one's existing cognitive schemas or beliefs to incorporate new experiences and information that do not fit into those schemas.

For example, if a child learns that not all four-legged animals are dogs, they might change their understanding of animals by creating a new category for cats. This adjustment illustrates how accommodation allows for the integration of new knowledge, enhancing cognitive development.

In contrast, assimilation involves incorporating new information into existing schemas without altering them, equilibrium refers to a state of cognitive balance, and maturation pertains to biological growth and development rather than cognitive adjustment. Thus, accommodation is the most fitting term for the process of changing ideas based on new information.