Cognitivism emphasizes internal mental processes and the role of prior knowledge in learning.

• A. Learning is determined solely by external rewards.
• B. Internal processes and prior knowledge influence learning.
• C. Learning occurs only through imitation.
• D. Behavior changes are permanent after reinforcement.

Answer: (B)

Cognitivism emphasizes internal mental processes and the role of prior knowledge in learning. Learners actively think, organize information, and connect new input to what they already know, using memory and problem-solving strategies to make sense of new material. Instruction that activates prior knowledge, models how to think through tasks, and helps students form meaningful connections mirrors this view.

Choices that describe learning as driven solely by external rewards or through imitation point to other theories like behaviorism or social learning, rather than cognitivism. Similarly, saying that behavior changes are permanent after reinforcement aligns with behaviorist ideas about reinforcement. This statement best captures the idea that learning is shaped by internal processing and prior knowledge.