Meltzoff & Moore

• procedure

  -controlled observation

  -4 different stimuli (3 face expressions & 1 hand gesture where fingers moved in sequence)

  -adult model displaying one of 4 stimuli

  -child's expression filmed

  -video judged by independent observers who had no knowledge of what was happening behind camera

  -observer watched infants behaviour in real time, slo-mo & frame by frame

  -observers asked to note all instances of infants tongue protrusions & head movements
• aim

  to investigate if an infant will perform interactional synchrony successfully
• What type of observation was used in the study?

  Controlled observation
• What stimuli were used in the study?

  • Three different faces
  • Hand gesture with fingers moved in sequence
• What was the purpose of using an adult model in the study?

  To display one of three facial expressions or hand movements
• How were the child's expressions recorded during the study?

  The child's expressions in reaction were filmed
• Who judged the video of the baby in the study?

  Independent observers who had no knowledge of what the infant had seen
• What methods did observers use to analyze the infant's behavior?

  They watched videotapes in real time, slow motion, and frame by frame
• What specific behaviors were observers asked to note in the infant?

  Instances of infant tongue protrusions and head movements
• What categories were used to classify the infant's behaviors?

  • Tongue protrusions
  • Head movements
• What was the inter-observer reliability score in the study?

  All greater than 0.92
• findings


  -infants as young as 2 or 3 weeks old imitated specific facial & hand gestures

  -inter-observer reliability scores all greater than 0.92 (high agreement)
• conclusion


  there's an association between infant behaviour and that of the adult model

  -supporting idea of interactional synchrony