What is the process of adjusting current understanding to incorporate new information called?

The process of adjusting current understanding to incorporate new information is known as accommodation. This term is rooted in psychological theories, particularly those developed by Jean Piaget. Accommodation occurs when individuals modify their existing cognitive frameworks or schemas to make sense of new experiences that do not fit into their preexisting knowledge.

For instance, a child who has a schema for dogs may see a cat for the first time and realize that it is not a dog, prompting them to adjust their understanding of animals to include cats as a separate category. This adjustment is essential for learning and cognitive development, as it allows individuals to expand their understanding of the world in response to new experiences.