Final answer:
Two-year-old Sara is engaging in assimilation by applying the term "doggie" to both a German Shepherd and a Labrador Retriever, showing she has a schema for dogs. This cognitive process, part of Piaget's cognitive development theory, will evolve through assimilation and accommodation as she continues to learn and differentiate between breeds.
Step-by-step explanation:
Two-year-old Sara is demonstrating a cognitive process known as assimilation when she applies the term "doggie" to a Labrador Retriever, having previously known this word to describe her family's German Shepherd. Assimilation occurs when new experiences are incorporated into existing schemas. This is a key concept in Jean Piaget's theory of cognitive development, which highlights how children adapt their understanding of the world as they grow and learn. Sara's use of the word "doggie" for both breeds of dogs shows that she has created a category for dogs and recognizes that despite physical differences, both animals fit into her doggie schema. Over time, with guidance and experience, she will learn to distinguish between different breeds and further refine her understanding, a process known as accommodation.