The baby duck syndrome as cognitive bias in user-interface interaction

Cognitive Processing. 2025. Vol. 26. P. 457–470.

Glebko N., Kharitonova A., Kosova E., Gorbunova E. S.

As technological interfaces are relatively new cultural tools, regular interaction can lead to new psychological phenomena, like the baby duck syndrome, where users favor old interfaces over updates. This syndrome is seen as a cognitive bias in human–computer interaction. Two studies were conducted: Study 1 on an Airbnb app (old vs. new versions), and Study 2 on a self-developed website (blue vs. purple design). Subjects completed sequential five usability tasks in two blocks with the resting between. Experimental groups engaged with different interface versions, while control groups used the same one. After completing tasks, subjects filled questionnaires about interface interaction. Study 1 showed significantly higher preference for the old Airbnb version, though scores varied by group. Study 2 revealed a trend of reduced scores in experimental groups on second assessment, not seen in controls. Version-based rating differences were insignificant. Overall, Studies 1 and 2 indicated baby duck syndrome is challenging to study in labs, suggesting it emerges when users are genuinely engaged with the interface. This article has both theoretical and experimental significance for studying the emergence of psychological phenomena in human-digital interaction. As a practical application, the obtained results can be useful for correct development updates for interfaces.

Keywords: cognitive bias, когнитивные искажения, human-digital interaction, человек-цифровое взаимодействие, baby duck syndrome, Software imprinting, синдром утенка, импринтинг

Publication based on the results of: Cognitive processes in the information environment: phenomena and explanatory models (2025)