Question 1

Which of the following methods is NOT used to explore infants' perceptual capacities?
A) magnitude estimation
B) preference
C) conditioning
D) habituation

Accepted Answer

Magnitude estimation is not typically used to explore infants' perceptual capacities as it requires the ability to verbally report on perceptions. Infants are not yet able to speak and therefore cannot provide this type of response. Preference, conditioning, and habituation techniques are commonly used to explore infants' perceptual capacities as they rely on nonverbal responses such as looking time or sucking behavior.

Question 2

The preference method is based on:
A) the idea that if a baby pays less attention to an object that has been presented several times, it demonstrates that he or she remembers 
 the object
B) the idea that if an infant spends consistently longer actively looking at one figure rather than another, the infant must be able to discriminate between the two figures
C) the idea that an infant will exhibit an unconditioned response without training when an experimenter exposes the baby repeatedly to a conditioned and unconditioned stimulus
D) both A and B

Accepted Answer

B

Question 3

A researcher is interested in studying whether a 2-month old infant can tell the difference between the colors red and blue. He places two identical bears, one red and one blue, in a looking chamber and records the percentage of time that the infant looks at each bear. This is an example of:
A) magnitude estimation
B) the preference method
C) habituation
D) operant conditioning

Accepted Answer

The preference method involves presenting two stimuli simultaneously and recording the amount of time the participant spends looking at each one. This is exactly what the researcher is doing with the two bears. Magnitude estimation involves asking participants to assign numerical values to their sensory experiences, habituation involves a decrease in response to repeated stimuli, and operant conditioning involves learning through consequences and rewards. None of these methods are being used in this particular study.

Question 4

A researcher uses the preference method to examine whether a newborn baby girl can perceive differences between her mother's face and the face of a random woman. The baby looks at a photo of her mother 50% of the time and a photo of a random woman 50% of the time. This suggests that:
A) the infant can distinguish between the two women.
B) the infant can tell who her mother is 50% of the time.
C) 50% of the features of the mother are shared with the random woman.
D) the infant is unable to tell the difference between the two women.

Accepted Answer

The equal distribution of looking time (50% at each photo) suggests that the infant does not show a preference for her mother's face over the face of a random woman, indicating an inability to distinguish between the two.

Question 5

If an infant spends a greater percentage of time looking at Object A than Object B in the looking chamber, this means that:
A) Object A is more interesting
B) Object A is more confusing
C) Object A is more unfamiliar 
D) none of the above

Accepted Answer

The answer of If an infant spends a greater percentage...

Question 6

Which of the following statements about the preference method is FALSE?
A) It allows us to determine whether infants can distinguish between two stimuli.
B) It allows us to measure an observable behavior.
C) It allows us to measure the psychological underpinnings of a perceptual experience.
D) It allows us to measure looking time to various objects.

Accepted Answer

The preference method does not measure the psychological underpinnings of a perceptual experience, but instead measures an observable behavior (such as looking time or reaching behavior) to determine if there is a preference for one stimulus over another. While this preference behavior can provide insight into cognitive and perceptual processes, it does not directly measure the underlying psychological mechanisms.

Question 7

An experiment is conducted to determine whether a 3-month old Japanese infant can detect differences between the phonemes /r/ and /l/.
-In the first stage, the baby listens to the sound /r/ played over speakers and the experimenter records the rate at which the infant sucks on a pacifier. Initially when hearing the /r/ sound, the baby sucks quickly but over time, the sucking rate decreases. This is an example of:
A) habituation
B) dishabituation
C) operant conditioning
D) classical conditioning

Accepted Answer

The baby's decrease in sucking rate over time when hearing the repeated /r/ sound suggests that the baby has become habituated to the sound. This is a form of learning in which the response to a stimulus decreases as the stimulus is repeated. Therefore, the correct choice is A) habituation.

Question 8

An experiment is conducted to determine whether a 3-month old Japanese infant can detect differences between the phonemes /r/ and /l/.
-Then, the experimenter plays the sound /l/ over the speakers and finds that the infant's sucking rate increases again. This is an example of __________________ and shows that the 3-month old Japanese infant
A) habituation; can detect the difference between /r/ and /l/
B) habituation; cannot detect the difference between /r/ and /l/
C) dishabituation; can detect the difference between /r/ and /l/
D) dishabituation; cannot detect the difference between /r/ and /l/

Accepted Answer

The increase in sucking rate when the sound /l/ is played again indicates that the infant can detect a difference between /r/ and /l/. This increase in response is an example of dishabituation, which occurs when a new stimulus is presented following a habituated stimulus, revealing that the infant can discriminate between the two stimuli. Therefore, the correct choice is C) dishabituation; can detect the difference between /r/ and /l/.

Question 9

This same experimenter wonders if a 6-month old Japanese baby can tell the difference between these two sounds. The experimenter first pairs the sound /r/ with a clapping toy presented to the baby's right. Then, the experimenter plays the sound /l/ repeatedly over speakers while the baby is looking straight ahead.
-When the sound changes from /l/ to /r/, the baby looks to the right, anticipating the presence of a clapping toy. This is an example of:
A) A. habituation
B) dishabituation
C) operant conditioning
D) classical conditioning

Accepted Answer

The answer of This same experimenter wonders if a 6-month...

Question 10

This same experimenter wonders if a 6-month old Japanese baby can tell the difference between these two sounds. The experimenter first pairs the sound /r/ with a clapping toy presented to the baby's right. Then, the experimenter plays the sound /l/ repeatedly over speakers while the baby is looking straight ahead.
-The fact that the 6-month old turned when the sound changed from /l/ to /r/ indicates that the Japanese baby:
A) can detect the difference between /r/ and /l/
B) cannot detect the difference between /r/ and /l/
C) prefers the sound /l/ to the sound /r/
D) none of the above

Accepted Answer

The fact that the baby turned when the sound changed from /l/ to /r/ indicates that the baby was able to detect the difference between the two sounds. Therefore, choice A is the correct answer. The experiment does not provide information about the baby's preference for either sound, so choice C cannot be correct. Choice D is also incorrect as one of the given choices must be correct.

Question 11

Which of the following statements is TRUE?
A) Classical conditioning and operant conditioning are both used to study infant perception.
B) Classical conditioning is used to study infant perception but operant conditioning is not.
C) Operant conditioning is used to study infant perception but classical conditioning is not.
D) Classical conditioning and operant conditioning are not used to study infant perception.

Accepted Answer

Classical conditioning and operant conditioning are both utilized in the study of infant perception. Classical conditioning involves learning through association, while operant conditioning involves learning through consequences (rewards or punishments). Both methods are valuable in understanding how infants learn and perceive the world around them.

Question 12

One benefit of using ERP, fMRI, and measures of heart rate to study infant perception is that:
A) they allow us to measure the psychological underpinnings of a perceptual experience.
B) they require no overt response from the infant.
C) they are more easily interpreted than behavioral methods.
D) all of the above

Accepted Answer

These methods are non-invasive and do not require infants to provide a direct response, making them suitable for studying infant perception.

Question 13

Held and Hein's work on the development of depth perception in kittens raised in darkness suggests that: (p. 380)
A) depth perception can develop fully even without visual stimuli or any engagement with the environment.
B) depth perception can develop fully as long as there is passive engagement with the environment.
C) depth perception can develop fully as long as there is active engagement with the environment.
D) even with active engagement, depth perception cannot fully develop without visual stimulation.

Accepted Answer

Held and Hein's experiments with kittens demonstrated that active engagement with the environment is crucial for the development of depth perception. Kittens that were allowed to move and interact with their surroundings developed normal depth perception, while those that were passively moved through the environment did not.

Question 14

Which of the following statements about the newborn infant's eye is TRUE?
A) The retina is not fully developed at birth.
B) The lens is smaller at birth than in adulthood.
C) The visual cortex is not fully developed at birth.
D) all of the above

Accepted Answer

Although all of the statements are true, the most comprehensive answer is D, which includes all of the above statements. The retina is not fully developed at birth, with the photoreceptor cells continuing to mature and develop over the first few months of life. The lens is smaller at birth than in adulthood, although it grows rapidly during the first year of life. The visual cortex is not fully developed at birth, with ongoing neural development and plasticity occurring over the first several years of life.

Question 15

Compared to an adult's eye, in an infant's eye:
A) the cones are more densely packed and not an optimal shape.
B) the cones are less densely packed and not an optimal shape.
C) the cones are more densely packed but an optimal shape.
D) the cones are less densely packed but an optimal shape.

Accepted Answer

Infants have fewer cones in their eyes compared to adults, and those cones that are present are not as tightly packed together or as well-developed in shape. This is why infants have poorer visual acuity and color vision compared to adults.

Question 16

The retina becomes fully developed by about __________________ of age.
A) 1 month
B) 6 months
C) 1 year
D) 6 years

Accepted Answer

The answer of The retina becomes fully developed by about...

Question 17

An infant's visual acuity is:
A) the same as an adult's.
B) better than an adult's but it quickly degrades.
C) worse than an adult's but it quickly develops.
D) worse than an adult's but it slowly develops.

Accepted Answer

An infant's visual acuity is initially worse than an adult's, but it quickly develops during the first few months of life. By the age of 6 months, an infant's visual acuity is roughly 20/20, which is the same as an adult's. Therefore, choice C is the correct answer.

Question 18

Both acuity and contrast sensitivity are roughly at adult levels:
A) at birth
B) by 1 month of age
C) by 1 year of age
D) by 6 years of age

Accepted Answer

Acuity and contrast sensitivity reach adult levels by around 6 years of age, as the visual system continues to develop and mature during early childhood.

Question 19

An infant is able to discriminate between a gray patch and a stimulus of black-and-white stripes that are 1/16-inch wide beginning at the age of:
A) 1 month
B) 2 months
C) 3 months
D) 6 months

Accepted Answer

Studies have shown that infants as young as 1 month old can discriminate between a gray patch and a stimulus of black-and-white stripes that are 1/16-inch wide. This ability improves with age and experience, but it is present even in very young infants. Therefore, option A is the best choice.

Question 20

Young infants __________________ acquire depth from binocular vision. Their vergence eye movements are __________________.
A) cannot; quite accurate
B) cannot; not accurate
C) can; quite accurate
D) can; not accurate

Accepted Answer

Young infants cannot acquire depth from binocular vision because their vergence eye movements are not accurate.

Quiz 14: Perceptual Development

Which of the following methods is NOT used to explore infants' perceptual capacities?

The preference method is based on:

A researcher is interested in studying whether a 2-month old infant can tell the difference between the colors red and blue. He places two identical bears, one red and one blue, in a looking chamber and records the percentage of time that the infant looks at each bear. This is an example of:

A researcher uses the preference method to examine whether a newborn baby girl can perceive differences between her mother's face and the face of a random woman. The baby looks at a photo of her mother 50% of the time and a photo of a random woman 50% of the time. This suggests that:

If an infant spends a greater percentage of time looking at Object A than Object B in the looking chamber, this means that:

Which of the following statements about the preference method is FALSE?

Which of the following statements is TRUE?

One benefit of using ERP, fMRI, and measures of heart rate to study infant perception is that:

Held and Hein's work on the development of depth perception in kittens raised in darkness suggests that: (p. 380)

Which of the following statements about the newborn infant's eye is TRUE?

Compared to an adult's eye, in an infant's eye:

The retina becomes fully developed by about __________________ of age.

An infant's visual acuity is:

Both acuity and contrast sensitivity are roughly at adult levels:

An infant is able to discriminate between a gray patch and a stimulus of black-and-white stripes that are 1/16-inch wide beginning at the age of:

Young infants acquire depth from binocular vision. Their vergence eye movements are .