Procedure

• • It is conducted in an observation laboratory with video cameras to record the behaviour of the mother and children ​
• • The research room is a novel environment (new and stimulating environment for the infant)​
• • The procedure centred around watching and analysing the infant’s reactions to parents leaving, and strangers attempting to interact with the infant ​
• • The procedure consisted of episodes, each designed to highlight certain behaviours in the infant – the key feature of these episodes is that the caregiver and stranger alternatively stay with the infant or leave
• ·       This allows for observation of the infant’s response to:​
• ·       Separation from the caregiver (separation anxiety)​
• ·       Reunion with the caregiver (reunion behaviour)​
• ·       Response to a stranger (stranger anxiety)​
• ·       The novel environment, which aims to encourage exploration and tests that ‘secure base’ concept ​
• ·       Behaviour was categorised into seeking, avoiding, and resisting behaviours, rated on a scale from 1 to 7. ​
• ·       Ainsworth combined the data from 106 middle-class infants