Raj is 12 years old. He recently developed a theory on his own about the irregular weather patterns in New York. He uses statistical analysis and certain scientific principles to predict the course of weather in New York. In the context of Piaget's theory of cognitive development, Raj is most likely in the _____ stage of development.

a. formal operational
b. preconventional
c. conventional
d. sensorimotor

Jean Piaget develop a theory of cognitive development, according to which, children and teenagers go through different stages in the process of cognitive development. Each stage is qualitatively different from each other and as they go through stages, their thinking go through changes, from thinking based on actions to thinking based on ideas.

The last stage of his theory is called the formal operational stage and it takes place between age of 12 and up. During this stage, adolescents start to think abstractly and reason about hypothetical problems, they are also able to formulate hypothesis and test them in order to find theories and solutions to different problems based on abstract thought.

In this example, Raj is 12 years old and uses statistical analysis and scientific principles to predict the course of weather in New York. We can see that he is thinking in an abstract way and using abstract tools such as statistical analysis in order to create his theory. Therefore, because of his age and the type of thinking he is having, he is most likely in the formal operational stage of development.