ERIC Number: EJ940087
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2007-Sep
Pages: 14
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0261-510X
EISSN: N/A
Infants' Perception of Goal-Directed Actions on Video
Hofer, Tanja; Hauf, Petra; Aschersleben, Gisa
British Journal of Developmental Psychology, v25 n3 p485-498 Sep 2007
Imitation studies and object search studies show that infants have difficulties using action information presented on video to guide their own behaviour. The present study investigated whether infants also have problems interpreting information shown on video relative to real live information. It was examined whether 6-month-olds interpret an action with a salient action effect as goal-directed when it is performed by an actor on a video-screen and when it is performed by a live actor. A video presentation of a goal-directed action display was presented to one group of infants, and another group received the same action display, matched in all details, live on a stage. Results indicate that 6-month-olds in the video group as well as in the live group interpreted the human action as goal-directed. Moreover, comparison across both groups revealed no difference in the overall looking pattern between the video and the live presentation group. Thus, our findings show that infants as young as 6 months of age can take important information from video clips and interpret televised actions in meaningful ways that is equivalent to their interpretation of live actions.
Descriptors: Video Technology, Toddlers, Infants, Developmental Psychology, Child Development, Infant Behavior, Investigations, Comparative Analysis, Eye Movements, Environmental Interpretation, Objectives
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Early Childhood Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A