What do psychologists investigate with a visual cliff?

Psychologists use the visual cliff to investigate depth perception and its development in infants and animals. This experimental setup consists of a glass surface that creates the illusion of a steep drop-off, allowing researchers to observe whether subjects will venture onto the "cliff" or hesitate, indicating their perception of depth. The findings help understand how visual cues influence behavior and the innate or learned aspects of depth perception. Additionally, it sheds light on the role of experience and environmental factors in developing spatial awareness.