Certificate In Psychology (CPSY) Practice Exam

How do researchers measure newborns' responses to odors?

1. Teaching them to perform behaviors rewarded by an odor.

2. Pairing each odor with a visual stimulus.

3. Observing their vocalizations in response to each odor.

4. Measuring changes in activity in response to each odor.

The correct answer is: Measuring changes in activity in response to each odor.

The correct approach to measuring newborns' responses to odors involves observing changes in their activity levels. Newborns, being unable to communicate verbally, often display their preferences or aversions to various stimuli through physical responses. Researchers monitor these changes in activity, which might include movement or changes in facial expressions, to gauge how newborns react to different smells. This method is particularly effective in non-verbal populations such as infants, as it provides insight into their sensory experiences and preferences without requiring them to perform specific tasks or learn behaviors. For instance, researchers may place newborns in a controlled setting where they are exposed to various odors and then record their movements or how they orient towards or away from the smells. This offers a clear, observable indication of their responses. Other methods, like training behaviors or pairing odors with visual stimuli, can be less effective with newborns due to their developmental stage and cognitive capabilities. Observing vocalizations might not provide accurate information since newborns tend to vocalize for various reasons that may not directly correlate with odor responses. Therefore, measuring changes in activity stands out as a reliable and appropriate method for assessing newborns' reactions to odors.