Should infant psychology rely on the violation-of-expectation method? Not anymore

Infant psychology has heavily drawn on the Violation-of-Expectation (VoE) method. In this piece, I analyse the assumptions that go into the VoE method by comparing it with other looking time measures. Reviewing key arguments in the literature, I argue that this method relies on too many questionable assumptions, that its conceptual foundations are thin, and that its findings are empirically not conclusive. Theoretical inferences based on VoE findings are thus too speculative to allow for solid progress in developmental psychology. Overall, while I appreciate that the VoE method has helped to make infant psychology a prominent field of research, I argue that it is time for infant psychology to move forward and to leave the VoE method behind.

Automated summary

This piece critically analyzes the Violation-of-Expectation (VoE) method in infant psychology and argues that it relies on questionable assumptions, has weak conceptual foundations, and lacks conclusive empirical findings. The author suggests that theoretical progress in developmental psychology requires moving away from the VoE method.