Abstract
Two experiments are reported showing that infants 11–20 months of age preferred noncontingent variable-time exposure to color slide stimuli over either contingent variable-interval or continuous reinforcement. Selection of one schedule over the other by subjects required their walking from side to side in a small test room. In both experiments, infants showed a significant position preference for the side of the test room in which the noncontingent schedule was operating. Differences in operant leverpressing are also reported. Stimulation preferences are discussed in terms of interactions between exploratory locomotion and attention to noncontingent visual stimuli.
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We thank the families who volunteered and Robyn Martin and Meryl Silvers for their assistance in recruiting subjects.
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Makin, J.W., Deni, R. Selection of contingent vs. noncontingent schedules of visual stimulation by infants. Bull. Psychon. Soc. 19, 71–73 (1982). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03330043
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03330043