Final answer:
The best connection between Piaget's cognitive development theory and the information processing view is Piaget's stages of development aligning with specific cognitive processes, which parallels the continuous refinement of thinking and reasoning as children grow.
Step-by-step explanation:
Connection Between Piaget's Theory and the Information Processing View
The connection between Jean Piaget's theory of cognitive development and the information processing view lies in the emphasis on the development of cognitive processes over time. While Piaget's theory is well-known for proposing that children's cognitive abilities develop through specific, sequential stages (sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operational, and formal operational), the information processing view considers cognitive development as a more continuous process of learning how to more effectively process and understand information.
Of the given options, the one that best represents a connection between Piaget's theory and the information processing view is(b) Piaget's stages of development aligning with specific cognitive processes. This parallels the concept in information processing that suggests improvements in cognitive abilities represent refinements in how children think, reason, and process information as they grow older.
However, it is important to note that Piaget's theory does not align with the options suggesting a strong emphasis on reinforcement and conditioning (a and d), nor does it depend on purely observable behavior (c). Rather, these aspects are more closely associated with behaviorist theories, such as those proposed by Skinner and Pavlov, which focus more directly on associative learning through conditioning.