AO3: Caregiver-infant

Cards (4)

Strength: Filmed observations
What? Filmed in a laboratory
Who? Distractions can be controlled + inter-rater reliability can be established + babies unaware being observed - no demand characteristics
Why? Good reliability and validity
Limitation: Difficulty observing babies
What? Hard to interpret a baby's behaviour
Who? Unsure whether a movement is random or triggered by a caregiver's act
Why? We cannot be certain behaviours seen in caregiver-infant interactions have special meaning
Limitation: Developmental importance
What? Observation doesn't tell us developmental importance
Who? Feldman - synchrony and reciprocity only give names to patterns of behaviour - doesn't tell us it's purpose
Why? Cannot be certain reciprocity and synchrony are important for a child's development
Counterpoint: Developmental importance
What? Evidence to suggest early interactions are important
Who? Isabella et al. - achievement of interactional synchrony predicted development of good quality attachment
Why? Care-giver infant interaction important in development