A novel technology for investigating the dynamics of infant perseverative reaching

Feng, Jing, Spencer, John ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7320-144X, Schöner, Gregor, Clearfield, Melissa W. and Thelen, Esther (2007) A novel technology for investigating the dynamics of infant perseverative reaching. Behavior Research Methods, 39 (4). pp. 911-919. ISSN 1554-351X

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Abstract

We designed and tested a novel technology that enables us to capture the entire stream of behavior in perseverative reaching tasks. Beyond fitting the criteria of the conventional A-not-B task, the novel technology gives us better access to the core features of perseverative reaching, such as timing, behavior history, and reinforcement. The technology allows us to quantitatively manipulate reinforcement characteristics, to accurately program onsets, delays, and stimulus durations as well as locations and salience of the targets, and to automatically record the number of reaches to each target and compute timing. We did a validation study on this new technology, investigating the influence of a number of novel factors on perseverative reaching. We replicated the A-not-B phenomenon and associated developmental changes. In addition, results demonstrated that the new technology offers insights into infants' behavior beyond the first reaching action. Moreover, data collection is fully automated, yielding precise, quantitative data. Future studies using this technology will capitalize on the salient advantages of this technology to more precisely measure goal-directed actions and understand the development of reaching skill.

Item Type: Article
Faculty \ School: Faculty of Social Sciences > School of Psychology
UEA Research Groups: Faculty of Social Sciences > Research Groups > Developmental Science
Related URLs:
Depositing User: Pure Connector
Date Deposited: 13 Nov 2015 16:02
Last Modified: 17 Jun 2024 15:30
URI: https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/55250
DOI: 10.3758/bf03192986

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