Differential effects of transformation on facial recognition in young children: A pilot study

This study sought to examine further the effect of facial transformation of accuracy at recognition by a sample of young children. Specifically, group s of 6- and 8-yr.-old children were familiarized with 10 target stimuli and were given a recognition test in which the targets were randomly mixed wit h 20 distracter stimuli. During the test, half of the target stimuli were t ransformed (addition of a mustache) and half of the target stimuli remained unchanged (clean-shaven). Subjects indicated which stimuli were previously viewed target faces, regardless of whether a mustache had been added. Anal ysis indicated no differences between the two groups for the unchanged face s; however, the addition of facial hair increased false alarms and lowered hits and d' values for the younger group only. These results suggest that t he groups performed equally well on recognition test for unchanged stimuli, but accuracy of recognition of transformed stimuli was differentially affe cted for younger subjects. This study raises further questions for assessin g the accuracy of facial memory by children, especially when faces to be id entified have been altered in physical appearance.