Cognitive developmental theories differ in three core ways: 1. Some propose stagelike changes in understanding (sudden spurts in knowledge followed by periods of stability); others, more continuous (gradual, incremental) changes in understanding. 2. Some adopt a domain-general account of development; others, a domain-specific account. Domain-general accounts propose that changes in children's cognitive skills affect most or all areas of cognitive function in tandem. In contrast, domain-specific accounts propose that changes in children's cognitive skills affect only specific areas of cognitive function. What are the three core ways in which cognitive developmental theories differ?