An investigator repeatedly plays a recording of the sound "ba" while checking the rate that an infant sucks on a nipple. After the infant's rate of sucking decreases, the investigator switches to the sound "pa." What is the investigator probably trying to determine?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The investigator is likely trying to determine if the infant can distinguish between the two sounds "ba" and "pa," as they differ only by a slight variation in their acoustics (voicing). This is a classic experiment used in the study of infant perception known as the "Ba-Pa" discrimination task. The switch from one sound to another is designed to test the infant's ability to perceive the difference and respond accordingly.

An Investigator Repeatedly Plays a Recording of the Sound "Ba