Jacey's Infant Study

I got a letter in the mail several weeks ago from UT's infant perception lab. They occasionally perform studies with babies to help learn different things about how babies learn. I filled out the information card saying that I'd be interested in letting her participate and I got a call. Josh is a PhD student and studying how babies learn to reach for objects. He had 3 different groups and she was in the group that when she hit a ball, it made a noise. He is studying to see if the sound makes it more intriguing to reach for things. He strapped her upright into a chair and put a table with a spring in front of her. He'd place a ball on the spring for 1 minute at a time to see if she would reach for it. After 1 minute he'd switch balls. She did well in the beginning but as the days went on she got frustrated before she would finish. We were supposed to go for 14 days but we only made it through 6. She got frustrated too quick and didn't get through enough balls. The goal was 10 a day and he wanted to average 5 per day. It was interesting to watch and see her get excited about the ball and then get frustrated because she couldn't figure out how to do it.

Jacey & Josh

Her setup.

Video of Jacey trying to get the ball.