Journal article
The exploration of size and toddler interaction with liquid laundry detergent capsules
PloS one, Vol.15(12), p.e0244481
12/30/2020
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0244481
PMCID: PMC7773262
PMID: 33378406
Abstract
Liquid laundry capsules have been involved in multiple poisoning incidents with young children in the home. There are a range of contributing factors for these incidents, including influences from industry, culture, home environments, and parenting/supervision. There also are influences from children's behaviour and decisions in reaction to potential hazards. Previous research examined the influence of capsule product appearance and colour on children's behaviour around hazardous household items, but little research examines the influence of product size. This research explored if differences in the size of liquid laundry capsules result in different levels of toddler interaction. We compared two commercially available capsule designs that are identical in physical appearance but differ in physical size. Our research was conducted using three studies: Study 1, forced-choice test in an out-of-context laboratory setting; Study 2, an ecologically-valid, simulated real-world setting replicating a home laundry cabinet with a container of capsules left open; and Study 3, a second ecologically-valid study replicating a home laundry cabinet, this time with a capsule left outside its container. Capsule interaction was measured by grasping choice among samples of 156 toddlers ages 9-36 months. The same sample was used for Studies 1 and 2, and a second identically sized sample recruited for Study 3. Results from Study 1 indicated toddlers selected the small (49.8% selection) and large (50.2%) capsule with nearly identical frequency. Study 2 largely replicated Study 1: Toddlers selected the small capsule or container of small capsules 26.8% of the time and the large capsule or container of large capsules 22.3% of the time. Study 3 also replicated previous findings: Toddlers selected the smaller capsule 18.0% of the time and the larger 19.2%. We discuss study results, which suggest no appreciable difference in toddler's grasping choice to smaller versus larger laundry capsules.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- The exploration of size and toddler interaction with liquid laundry detergent capsules
- Creators
- Annalise Richmond - Procter & GambleDavid C. Schwebel - University of Alabama at BirminghamCasie H. Morgan - University of Alabama at BirminghamZhiwu W. Liang - Procter & GambleAlice Boutoille - Procter & GamblePablo Buso - AijuAna Mata - AijuGerard Stijntjes - Procter & Gamble
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- PloS one, Vol.15(12), p.e0244481
- DOI
- 10.1371/journal.pone.0244481
- PMID
- 33378406
- PMCID
- PMC7773262
- NLM abbreviation
- PLoS One
- ISSN
- 1932-6203
- eISSN
- 1932-6203
- Publisher
- Public Library Science
- Number of pages
- 13
- Grant note
- Procter & Gamble Services Company; Procter & Gamble
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 12/30/2020
- Academic Unit
- Research Administration
- Record Identifier
- 9984949176202771
Metrics
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