The partial-lag design: A method for controlling spontaneous regression in the infant-control habituation paradigm

Abstract

The problem of spontaneous regression in the infant control procedure is discussed and empirical evidence demonstrating that it contributes significantly to postcriterion looking scores is presented. Previous approaches to controlling spontaneous regression are reviewed and are found unsatisfactory and/or inefficient. A new approach utilizing a partial-lag design is presented as an alternative. In contrast to previous approaches, this method successfully controls spontaneous regression without requiring a group of babies exclusively for control purposes.