Abstract:

Since infants cannot use scales to indicate how much they like something, mothers must use non-verbal cues to infer product acceptance or rejection. As an alternative to an expensive central location test with mother-infant dyads, we used mothers' mobile phone cameras to record infants' reaction to yogurt products. Mothers also completed traditional questionnaires. Video analysis provided an objective means for researchers to determine product acceptance, resulting in specific measurement criteria that were validated against mothers' responses. This methodology presents opportunities to evaluate infant liking of a wide range of products, using common mobile technology.