Developmental

Scenario 10.1 is based on and presents results consistent with the following study:

Kim, I. K., & Spelke, E. S. (1992). Infants' sensitivity to effects of gravity on visual object motion. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, 18(2), 385–393.

Kim and Spelke (1992) investigated the extent to which infants have expectancies of gravitational effects on visual object motion. Infants of 3 and 5 months of age repeatedly watched a video of a ball accelerating as it rolled down an incline until they spent little time actively looking at it. Subsequently, two types of test trials were conducted in randomized order. Type A test trials consisted of a ball slowing down as it rolled up an incline. Type B test trials consisted of a ball slowing down as it rolled down an incline. During all trials, the amount of time looking at each visual display was recorded. Fabricated data consistent with the major finding of this study are presented in Figure 10.1.

Figure 10.1

Note that “Age 5” and “Age 3” in the legend refer to months of age.

Question (Scenario 10.1) This study exploits the well-known finding that infants generally will _____ objects or scenarios that are _____.

Group of answer choices

A) divert gaze from; physically impossible

B) stare longer at; surprising

C) stare longer at; familiar