Chapter 10. The A-Not-B Error

Synopsis

Human Development Video Activity
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You must read each slide, and complete any questions on the slide, in sequence.
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THE A-NOT-B ERROR

Estimated Completion Time:

Approximately 5 minutes.

Synopsis:

In this module, you will view a video clip that depicts infants’ limited understanding of object permanence. After the segment, you’ll be asked to reflect on alternative theories to Piaget’s explanation of the A-Not-B error.

Video

Piaget asserted that between the ages of 8 months and one year infants have only a limited understanding of object permanence. One demonstration of this limitation, according to Piaget, can be seen in the A-Not-B test. In this test, infants who have success-
fully retrieved an object in location A and then see the object hidden in location B will tend to search for the object in location A.

8 month old fails
9 month old passes

Essay Question

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Question 10.1

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Alternative explanations for the A-Not-B error include infants’ limited memory and poor inhibitory control; their failure to recognize the difference between the A and B trials, which leads them to
do what worked before; and, as explained in Chapter 4, the influence of infants’ prior attending and reaching to location A.

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