This study is to determine the subject’s (Jane’s) favorite items at the age of 15 months. While the subject’s verbal skills are consistent with her age, they are not adequate or reliable enough for this task and conclusions will need to be drawn from direct daily observation of the subject.
Observation of Jane to determine favored objects:
-In the bathroom a wire basket and a half eaten piece of toast are abandoned for a pink golf ball. (Observer was surprised that the golf ball left the bathroom with the subject as usually such objects are left on the floor so that the subject may leave both hands free to empty drawers of toiletries. This drawer emptying behavior was not exhibited during the study and will not be used when drawing conclusions though the lack of this behavior does make the mother of the subject hopeful.)
-A pile of plastic bottle caps are left strewn over the floor in favor of the wireless mouse which is in turn discarded for the batteries inside the mouse. (At this point the observer was forced to interfere with study subject to prevent ingestion of batteries. A phenomenon known as “Moms ruin all the fun.”).
-Looking at a book in subject’s parent’s bed ends as soon as the subject remembers she can turn the clock radio on.
-Small rocks from the driveway are returned to the ground before the subject was able to taste them when she started to chase a “CHIEN!” across the yard. (Judging by the results, the object in question is a chicken and it is less excited about the chase than the subject.)
-Subject drops all food and toys for ChapStick.
In conclusion the observer believes that ChapStick and chickens are the subject’s favorite items.
Interestingly, the child is also either lacking in developmentally appropriate toys or developmentally appropriate toys are boring and ignored in favor of general household detritus. The answer to this question is beyond the scope of this study and warrants further testing.
Behind the Willows 