What cognitive process involves fitting new information into an existing schema?

The cognitive process that involves fitting new information into an existing schema is assimilation. This process is rooted in the theories of cognitive development proposed by psychologist Jean Piaget. When individuals encounter new experiences or information, they tend to integrate it into the frameworks they already possess, which are their schemas.

For instance, if a child who has a schema for dogs—knowing they are four-legged, furry animals—encounters a new breed of dog, they will assimilate that new information by incorporating the characteristics of this breed into their pre-existing schema about dogs. This process helps individuals maintain a coherent understanding of their environment by linking new experiences to what they already know.

In contrast, accommodation occurs when new information cannot fit into existing schemas, requiring the individual to modify their schemas or create new ones. Equilibration is a broader concept that refers to the balance between assimilation and accommodation as one learns and adapts to new experiences. Operations involve the mental processes by which individuals manipulate information but do not specifically focus on the integration of new data into existing knowledge structures. Thus, assimilation is the precise term that describes the fitting of new information into previously existing schemas.