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Dropout in looking time studies: The role of infants' temperament and cognitive developmental status

Sarah Klein-Radukic1, Norbert Zmyj1

  • 1Technical University of Dortmund, Dortmund, Germany.

Infant Behavior & Development
|October 20, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Infant dropout in looking time studies is linked to specific temperaments, not cognitive development. Consistent dropout across sessions suggests potential sample bias in infant research.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Psychology
  • Infant Research Methodologies

Background:

  • High infant dropout rates in looking time studies can compromise sample representativeness.
  • Understanding factors influencing dropout is crucial for reliable infant research.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify infant characteristics associated with dropout in longitudinal looking time studies.
  • To assess the impact of dropout on sample representativeness regarding temperament and cognitive development.

Main Methods:

  • Longitudinal preferential looking tasks at 6 and 9 months.
  • Habituation and novelty preference tasks at 9 months.
  • Assessment of infant temperament using the Infant Behavior Questionnaire - Revised (IBQ-R) and cognitive development via the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development (BSID-III).

Main Results:

  • Dropout positively correlated with IBQ-R scales Distress to Limitations and Approach.
  • Dropout negatively correlated with IBQ-R scales Falling Reactivity and Cuddliness.
  • No significant relationship found between dropout and cognitive status (BSID-III), habituation speed, or novelty preference.
  • Dropout at 6 months predicted dropout at 9 months.

Conclusions:

  • Infant dropout in looking time studies is influenced by specific temperament dimensions, affecting sample representativeness for these traits.
  • Dropout does not appear to bias samples concerning cognitive developmental status or performance in habituation/novelty tasks.
  • Consistent dropout across sessions is a significant factor to consider in longitudinal infant studies.

Keywords:
CharacterInfant researchMental developmentPersonalityPreferential lookingSubject loss

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