strengths

• • Meltzoff and Moore's study on interactional synchrony was filmed
  • This means that observations can be analysed later and there is no ambiguity to the baby's responses as researchers will not miss any behaviours
  • Using infants at such a young age (two-three weeks old) means that they are unaware they are being filmed and so their behaviour will not change in response to being recorded (which is more likely with older subjects being filmed)
  • Therefore data collected will have high validity
• • Evidence supports Meltzoff and Moore's findings:
  • Murray and Trevarthen (1985) studied two-month-old infants using interactions with their mothers via a video monitor
  • When mothers did not interact with their infants, via the monitor, infants showed distress and tried to attract their mother's attention
  • The infants independently showed a response rather than showing a behaviour that had been rewarded by the mother replicating it back
  • This suggests that the infant is an active and intentional partner in the infant-caregiver relationship