A03

• * high reliability?

  • due to controlled environment & standardised procedure means that s.s can be easily replicated
  • main & kaplan & cassidy 1985 tested babies at 18 months
  • retested at 6 years old
  • found that 100% of secure babies were still classfied as this
  • 75% of avoidant still under same classification
  • reliable
  • highly similar replicated findings demonstrate consistency of s.s technique as a tool for measuring att types
• X ethical guidelines broken?

  • while mothers gave consent to take part infants cannot
  • s.s may be stressful for infants as being taken away from their cg to measure att behaviour
  • breaks guideline of protection from psychological harm
  • ? credible
  • some infants may find procedure intensely distressing
  • is unacceptable research practice
  • suggests more ethical methods should be devloped to measure att behaviour
• X culturally biased?

  • s.s does not have same meaning outside of western europe & usa
  • cultural differences in childhood experiences more likely to mean that kids respond differently to s.s
  • e.g israeli kids live in kibbutz rarely encounter stranger so in s.s stranger anxiety is different experience then for americans
  • cgs from diff cultures behave differently in s.s
  • takhashi 1990 noted test does not work in japan
  • japanese mothers rarely separate from babies so very high levels of separation anxiety shown
  • ? population
  • cannot be generalised as tool for measuring att in all cultures
• X lacks ecological validity?

  • ainsworth conducted observation in controlled environment
  • children may have acted differently to how they would act in more familiar environment
  • so dont know if behaviours displayed would be same as when in familiar setting
  • ? ecological
  • is difficult to generalise findings to real life att
• * strongly predictive of later development?

  • found that babies assessed as secure typically go on to have better outcomes in many areas
  • ranges from success at school/romantic relationships/friendships in adulthood
  • internal
  • shows its an accurate measure of att behaviour
  • can predict outcome of future relationships