Which of the following would characterize a child who is in the formal operational stage of cognitive development?

a child thinks in an abstract manner by manipulating ideas in his or her head.

Explanation:

Jean Piaget has developed the theory of cognitive development in which he has mentioned four distinct stages including sensorimotor, preoperational, formal operational, and concrete operational.

Formal operational stage: This stage is considered to be as the final or the fourth stage and starts at the age of twelve years of age and lasts through adulthood.

A child who's in the formal operational stage gains the ability to think abstractly by manipulation different ideas in his or her mind in the absence of any dependency on the concrete manipulation. A child generally uses the trial-and-error method to solve a problem.