Which stage of cognitive development follows the pre-operational stage according to Piaget?

The Concrete Operational Stage is the stage of cognitive development that follows the pre-operational stage, according to Piaget's theory. This stage typically occurs between the ages of 7 and 11 years. During this period, children begin to think more logically and systematically about concrete objects and events. They develop the ability to understand the concept of conservation, which means they can grasp that quantities remain the same despite changes in shape or appearance.

In this stage, children also become capable of performing operations on concrete objects, which allows them to solve problems in a more organized manner. They can classify objects, understand relationships among different categories, and follow the principles of transitivity (understanding the relationship between different objects based on their attributes).

This marked transition from the pre-operational stage, where thinking is more intuitive and egocentric, to the concrete operational stage reflects a significant development in logical thought processes and a decrease in egocentricity, illustrating how children's reasoning evolves with age and experience.

The other options do not represent the correct sequence in Piaget's stages of cognitive development, as the Sensory Motor Stage occurs earlier, the Formal Operations Stage comes after the Concrete Operations Stage, and the Transitional Stage is not recognized in Piaget’s framework.