What do the "operations" in Piaget's theory refer to?

In Piaget's theory of cognitive development, "operations" refer specifically to the mental processes that individuals use when thinking and reasoning about the world around them. This encompasses a range of cognitive activities such as understanding relationships, applying logic, and solving problems. Piaget identified several stages of cognitive development, and during these stages, children's ability to perform these mental operations evolves.

For example, during the concrete operational stage, children begin to think logically about concrete events, allowing them to perform operations such as classification and seriation. As they progress to the formal operational stage, they develop the capacity for abstract thought and can handle hypothetical situations, further illustrating the enhancement of their mental processes. This development of operations is crucial as it reflects how children move from simple thought processes to more complex forms of reasoning, which is a central tenet in Piaget's understanding of how cognitive abilities develop over time.

The other options do not capture the essence of what "operations" entail according to Piaget. External actions, physical activities during play, and communication abilities, while significant in child development, do not represent the internal cognitive processes that "operations" specifically refer to in this context.