Final answer:
Assimilation is the cognitive process wherein a child integrates new experiences within the framework of their existing schema, as described by developmental psychologist Jean Piaget.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a child uses their new experience in terms of their existing schema, this is known as assimilation. Jean Piaget, a renowned developmental psychologist, asserted that children possess schemata - mental models that aid in categorizing and interpreting information.
As they encounter new information, children use assimilation to integrate it into their existing schemata if it is compatible with what they already know. For instance, if a child has a schema for dogs and comes across various types of dogs, they will assimilate these new experiences into their existing dog schema.
Conversely, if they encounter an animal that does not fit their dog schema, they may adjust their understanding through the process of accommodation, which entails modifying the schema to encompass the new information.