Degrees of Novelty and Their Effects on Children's Attention and Preference

Two experiments investigated the question of whether those attributes of stimuli effective in eliciting attention are also effective in motivating choice. In the first experiment children of 4 and 6 years were given the opportunity to view pictures varying in novelty. They could choose the type of picture they wished to view and view as long as they wished. They also stated their preference. Novelty influenced attention and expressed preference but not choice. In the second experiment fewer stimuli were used in the familiarization phase, thereby increasing tedium, whereupon choice was also found to be influenced. The results are considered in the context of other studies which have related exposure to attention and preference.