Goal Certainty Modulates Infants' Goal-Directed Gaze Shifts

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Bibliographic Details
Title: Goal Certainty Modulates Infants' Goal-Directed Gaze Shifts
Language: English
Authors: Henrichs, Ivanina, Elsner, Claudia, Elsner, Birgit
Source: Developmental Psychology. Jan 2014 50(1):100-107.
Availability: American Psychological Association. Journals Department, 750 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20002. Tel: 800-374-2721; Tel: 202-336-5510; Fax: 202-336-5502; e-mail: order@apa.org; Web site: http://www.apa.org
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 8
Publication Date: 2014
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Descriptors: Goal Orientation, Infants, Prediction, Eye Movements, Inferences, Cognitive Processes, Video Technology, Infant Behavior, Comparative Analysis, Accuracy, Visual Stimuli
DOI: 10.1037/a0032664
ISSN: 0012-1649
Abstract: We investigated whether 12-month-old infants rely on information about the certainty of goal selection in order to predict observed reaching actions. Infants' goal-directed gaze shifts were recorded as they observed action sequences in a multiple-goals design. We found that 12-month-old infants exhibited gaze shifts significantly earlier when the observed hand reached for the same goal object in all trials (frequent condition) compared with when the observed hand reached for different goal objects across trials (nonfrequent condition). Infants in the frequent condition were significantly more accurate at predicting the action goal than infants in the nonfrequent condition. In addition, findings revealed rapid learning in the case of certainty and no learning in the case of uncertainty of goal selection over the course of trials. Together, our data indicate that by the end of their first year of life, infants rely on information about the certainty of goal selection to make inferences about others' action goals.
Abstractor: As Provided
Number of References: 33
Entry Date: 2015
Accession Number: EJ1050247
Database: ERIC
Description
Abstract:We investigated whether 12-month-old infants rely on information about the certainty of goal selection in order to predict observed reaching actions. Infants' goal-directed gaze shifts were recorded as they observed action sequences in a multiple-goals design. We found that 12-month-old infants exhibited gaze shifts significantly earlier when the observed hand reached for the same goal object in all trials (frequent condition) compared with when the observed hand reached for different goal objects across trials (nonfrequent condition). Infants in the frequent condition were significantly more accurate at predicting the action goal than infants in the nonfrequent condition. In addition, findings revealed rapid learning in the case of certainty and no learning in the case of uncertainty of goal selection over the course of trials. Together, our data indicate that by the end of their first year of life, infants rely on information about the certainty of goal selection to make inferences about others' action goals.
ISSN:0012-1649
DOI:10.1037/a0032664