Robert Frantz- Developmental Psychologist
Robert Frantz was a developmental psychologist whose primary focus was on infant perception.
His intentions were to disprove the notion that infants lacked pattern vision/recognition during the very
first parts of life (Frantz, 1963). Franz conducted multiple experiments that measured not only
children's glances at pattern but the amount of time spent fixated on such patterns. In his experiment
of “pattern vision in newborn infants,” Frantz discovered that there was twice as much infantile visual
attention to pictures containing patterns opposed to solid colors (pp.296-297).
His intentions were to disprove the notion that infants lacked pattern vision/recognition during the very
first parts of life (Frantz, 1963). Franz conducted multiple experiments that measured not only
children's glances at pattern but the amount of time spent fixated on such patterns. In his experiment
of “pattern vision in newborn infants,” Frantz discovered that there was twice as much infantile visual
attention to pictures containing patterns opposed to solid colors (pp.296-297).
Prior to this study Frantz coined a few methods to study infants such as the “preference method,”
(Essays, 2018) which was a simple test that evaluated the preferred stimulus of an infant by
presenting them both at the same time and seeing which one the infant gravitated towards (para, 2).
Although the legitimacy of the preference method was criticized, it was used as a platform to perform
other infant experiments such as depth perception to determine if a child could choose between
something closer or further away (Kavsek et al., 2009). Furthermore, in 1961 Frantz developed the
preferential looking paradigm which is what later backed up his visual pattern study in 1963 by
determining that the amount of time spent looking at one stimulus over the other allows one to infer
preference (Durham University, 2019). This theory has continued on as a pertinent method in current
cognitive infant studies.
(Essays, 2018) which was a simple test that evaluated the preferred stimulus of an infant by
presenting them both at the same time and seeing which one the infant gravitated towards (para, 2).
Although the legitimacy of the preference method was criticized, it was used as a platform to perform
other infant experiments such as depth perception to determine if a child could choose between
something closer or further away (Kavsek et al., 2009). Furthermore, in 1961 Frantz developed the
preferential looking paradigm which is what later backed up his visual pattern study in 1963 by
determining that the amount of time spent looking at one stimulus over the other allows one to infer
preference (Durham University, 2019). This theory has continued on as a pertinent method in current
cognitive infant studies.
Frantz’s studies changed scientists perception of infantile perception by providing factual evidence
that infants has the ability to recognize and distinguish not only patterns but also depth recognition.
These studies later contributed to the understanding of the development of children's eyes and the
process in which their visual horizons expand and take new information in. So many love to
underestimate children's abilities to understand and process new information but Frantz was a
scientist who opened new doors for understanding what goes on inside infants heads.
that infants has the ability to recognize and distinguish not only patterns but also depth recognition.
These studies later contributed to the understanding of the development of children's eyes and the
process in which their visual horizons expand and take new information in. So many love to
underestimate children's abilities to understand and process new information but Frantz was a
scientist who opened new doors for understanding what goes on inside infants heads.
References
Durham University. (2019). Preferential looking procedure. Retrieved From https://www.dur.ac.uk/
psychology/research/developmental_psychology/babylab/methods/looking/
psychology/research/developmental_psychology/babylab/methods/looking/
Essays, UK. (2018). Psychological research studies. Retrieved from https://www.ukessays.com/
essays/psychology/psychological-research-studies.php?vref=1
essays/psychology/psychological-research-studies.php?vref=1
Frantz, R. (1963). Pattern vision in newborn infants. Science 140(3564) (pp. 296-297): American
Association for the Advancement of Science. Retrieved from http://home.fau.edu/lewkowic/web/
Fantz%20Infant%20Preferece1963.pdf
Association for the Advancement of Science. Retrieved from http://home.fau.edu/lewkowic/web/
Fantz%20Infant%20Preferece1963.pdf
Kavsek, M., Granrud, C.E., & Yonas, A. (2009). Infants’ responsiveness to pictorial depth cues
in preferential reaching studies: A meta-analysis. Infant behavior and development, 32. (245-253).
in preferential reaching studies: A meta-analysis. Infant behavior and development, 32. (245-253).
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