Current Research in the
Eye Tracking Lab

Stimulus Overselectivity and Observing Behavior

William V. Dube, Ph.D.

Stimulus overselectivity, a widely acknowledged problem in special education, is shown by atypically limited learning with respect to range, breadth, or number of stimuli or stimulus features. Dr. Dube's eye tracking studies are examining the problem through specification and analysis of observing behavior. More...

Stimulus Control Transfer and Attending Behavior

Richard W. Serna, Ph.D.

Teaching programs for individuals with mental retardation may teach new discriminations by using previously acquired discriminations as prompts. Such methods rely on a transfer of control from the stimuli used as prompts to the relevant stimuli of the new discriminations. Dr. Serna is using eye tracking to study attending behavior as a factor in stimulus control transfer successes and failures. More... .

Fast Mapping and Vocabulary Expansion

Krista M. Wilkinson, Ph.D.

This study examines processes of word learning in individuals with severe cognitive and communication impairments. Word learning is a foundational component of human development, yet some individuals with severe mental retardation show marked difficulty in acquiring vocabulary. It is therefore essential to understand the nature of lexical impairments in severe mental retardation. Dr. Wilkinson's research asks what strategies allow typical children to acquire new words, and is how word learning strategies may differ for individuals who do not learn language readily. More... .