Do you see what I see? Visual attention when viewing egocentric object exploration in 18- to 24-month-olds

Abstract

Recent research has investigated where toddlers are looking and what gathers their attention when exploring objects in a natural environment (Smith et al., 2011; Bambach et al., 2017; Yu & Zhang, 2016). Research has yet to investigate what attracts toddlers’ attention when they are viewing a scene from the perspective of another toddler (egocentric viewing). Research investigating egocentric viewing is important as it further informs researchers about toddlers’ attentional goals and provides information for future studies that use similar stimuli. In the present study, 18- to 24-month-old toddlers viewed egocentrically recorded video clips of object exploration of 11 different toys from the perspective of other 18- to 24-month-old toddlers. In order to investigate the effect of continuity in object exploration on toddler attention, each toy was shown in two conditions: the first condition was 10 seconds of object exploration; the second condition contained the same clip with added video footage for additional context. We hypothesized that toddlers would look at the main toy being explored, that the toddlers would be synchronized with other toddlers, and that context would increase the synchrony of toddlers. Our results revealed that toddlers moderately synchronize their attention with other participants and with the stimuli toddler, and that participant toddlers focus on the primary toy being explored. However, we found that providing context decreased the synchrony within our participants and decreased the amount that toddlers looked at the main toy. Use of the stimuli in future studies is discussed.