In the looking paradigm used to study infants, researchers habituate the infant to a stimulus and then present a new event to see if the infant notices. What does a longer looking time after the change indicate?

• A. The infant notices a change in the stimulus
• B. The infant is more familiar with the old stimulus
• C. The infant cannot distinguish the stimuli
• D. The infant loses interest quickly

Answer: (A)

In this looking paradigm, longer looking after the change shows novelty detection. After habituation, the infant’s attention increases when something new or different is presented, indicating they notice a change from what they learned during habituation. This longer looking reflects dishabituation: the old stimulus was familiar, and the new event violates expectations, capturing more attention and signaling discrimination between the two. If the infant couldn’t distinguish the stimuli, or if they simply became bored again, looking time wouldn’t increase. If they were more familiar with the old stimulus, they’d typically continue to look less, not more. Hence, the extended looking time means the infant notices a change in the stimulus.