The effects of antecedent instruction on visual habituation of preschool children

Abstract

This research reports the results of an investigation of the effects of antecedent instruction on the subsequent habituation of preschool children to visual patterns. Twenty preschool children were divided into two groups of 5 males and 5 females in each group. The experimental group was instructed, "we are going to playa game with you. Please stay in your seat and look at the pictures." The control group was given the same instruction without the phrase, "look at the pictures." Subsequently, each subject was given nine 30-sec presentations of a pattern with an intertrial interval of between 7 and 12 sec and one 30-sec recovery trial of a second pattern. The results demonstrated a clear overall habituation and recovery effect. In addition, there was a significant interaction with females showing greater total mean fixation time than males in the experimental group.