What's Next?! - Object Permanence

The second part of the my study to is determine to what extent does animal intelligence compare to human intelligence. I will be using Piaget's 4 stage theory of cognitive development as a basis for my research. 
Jean Piaget's Stage Theory of Cognitive Development is a four-stage model of how the mind processes new information encountered. There are a few basic skills we learn during each stage.  The stages are as followed; sensorimotor, pre-operational, concrete operational, and formal operational. 

During the sensorimotor stage children (ages 0-2) gain an understanding of object permanence. Children comprehend that objects continue to exist even when they can not be observed.  

How to test if that animals have this ability; I will show the animal an object (in this case food, like bananas, apples, and peanuts) and then go hide it behind another object, such as a tree, fence post or bucket. If the animal perceives that the object has simply disappeared, then they do not have an understanding of object permanence. If the animal proceeds to go look for the object, then they demonstrate an understanding of this concept. Meaning that animals have the same cognitive abilities as young children.  

Here is a video of a child who does not yet understand the concept of object permanence. 

Here is another video. This child has a better understanding of object permanence and can find their toy after it was hidden under the blanket 

                          

I will be testing this with the goats! Stay tuned!