Relational Learning in Infancy
In this line of studies, we are investigating the origins of relational learning in infants and the factors that help or hinder this process. Relational learning may be a uniquely human ability that sets us apart from other species. A simple way to look at this ability as well as the factors that affect learning is by examining the most basic relations of same and different.
When you come into our lab, your baby sits on your lap in front of a puppet stage. One of our researchers performs a puppet show for your baby and shows them various objects that either have the same or different relation. For the first 6-9 trials, we show your baby multiple pairs of objects and ‘teach’ them this relation. Following this learning phase, we move onto the test phase where we show your baby new pairs of objects in both the same and different relations. Across all trials, we measure the amount of time that your baby is looking at the pair of objects, which in turn, tells us what infants are able to learn and abstract a relation and transfer it to pairs that they have never seen before.
Object Categorization in Infancy
How do infants learn to categorize objects and how does exposure to one or more languages influence this categorization process? In this study, we explore this question on Zoom by showing infants various images from a single category (e.g., fish or dinosaurs) and label these images with a novel word. After a few learning trials, we show infants two images simultaneously on the screen and measure how long they look at each image. The amount of time that infants spend looking at each of the images tells us whether they have formed categories.
Relational Learning in Children
Extending upon our line of studies with infants, this study looks at how children (3- to 5-year-olds) perform on tasks of relational learning. In addition, we are examining the developmental trajectory of this relational learning process across early childhood, as well as the factors that facilitate and hinder this process. Through a card game, we present children with a triad of cards and ask them to choose from one of two alternatives. You are welcome to sit with your child during the study!