AO3

• External validity

  • Most observations carried out during normal activities and then reported to researchers meaning it’s highly likely that the Ppts behaved naturally during the observation meaning good external validity
  • However, this data was form mothers. They may have been less sensitive therefore not reported it - systematic bias - challenges validity
• Biased sample

  • All ppts from same district and working class (can it be generalised?), 1960s (parenting has changed) - more women in work, more childcare available and more stay at home dads
• asocial stage

  • babies have poor coordination and are immobile. therefore difficult to make judgements from observation therefore low reliability
• real world application

  • In the early stages babies can be comforted by any skilled adult but of a chuld starts day care in the specific attachment stage it may lead to distress and long term problems. Schaffer and Emerson’s stages can help parents making day care decisions
• Collectivist cultures

  • Things are shared, groups live together, share tasks and share the burden of raising children, multiple attachments are common in these cultures
  • Their stages model is only applicable to individualist cultures