Evaluation

• What is a strength of the research on this topic?

  Caregiver-infant interactions are usually filmed in a laboratory. This means that:

  • Extraneous variables that might distract the baby can be controlled
  • Observations can be recorded and analysed later
  • Therefore it is unlikely that researchers will miss key behaviours
  • More than one observer establishes inter-observer reliability
  • Babies don't know they are being observed, so their behaviour is unchanged
  • Therefore, good reliability and validity
• What is one limitation of research into caregiver-infant interactions?

  It is hard to interpret a baby's behaviour. For example:

  • Young babies lack coordination and much of their bodies are almost immobile.
  • The movements being observed are just small hand movements - it is hard to see what the baby intended to do.
  • Therefore we cannot be certain that the behaviours seen in caregiver-infant interactions have a special meaning.
• What is a further limitation of research into caregiver-infant interactions?

  Simply observing a behaviour does not tell us its developmental importance.

  • Feldman (2012) - Synchrony and reciprocity simply give names to patterns of observable caregiver and baby behaviours.
  • They can reliably be observed, but they may not be particularly useful in understanding child development
  • Therefore, we can not be certain from observational research alone that reciprocity and synchrony are important for a child's development
• What is a counterpoint to Feldman (2012)'s criticism?

  There is evidence from other research that suggests that early interactions are important. For example, Isabella et al (1989).