To examine whether infants can perceive a difference between two stimuli, a researcher first shows one stimulus to the infant until she becomes disinterested. The researcher then shows the other stimulus to the infant and records whether the infant becomes interested in the new stimulus. This method is called the _____ technique.
A) habituation
B) preferential-looking
C) contrast-sensitivity
D) pattern-recognition

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The method described in the question is the habituation technique, in which an infant is repeatedly presented with a stimulus until they become bored or disinterested. Once this occurs, the researcher presents a new stimulus to see if the infant shows renewed interest, indicating that they can perceive a difference between the two stimuli. The preferential-looking technique involves presenting two stimuli simultaneously and measuring which one the infant looks at more often, while the contrast-sensitivity and pattern-recognition methods are more specific techniques for measuring different aspects of visual perception.

To Examine Whether Infants Can Perceive a Difference Between Two