Caregiver-Infant Interactions 2

What are some benefits of using a laboratory when observing babies?

- minimises distractions

- can record and view later

- more than one observer for inter-rater reliability

- babies don't know that they are being observed, removes demand characteristics

- data is reliable and valid

What are some negatives of using a laboratory when observing babies?

- interpretation of behaviour is difficult

- lack of coordination, are the behaviours random or intentional

- results can't be certain

What did Ruth Feldman (2012) state?

These behaviours that babies express during these type of experiments may not be helpful in understanding the purpose of the behaviours in the development of the child

We can't be certain from observational research alone that reciprocity and interactional synchrony are important for a child's development

What did Jean Piaget (1962) propose?

Proposed imitation is developed towards the end of the first year, it can be possible that babies were doing some sort of response training

What did Isabella et al (1989) find?

High levels of interactional synchrony were associated with better quality mother-infant attachment, and good quality attachment later on, meaning caregiver-infant interaction is probably important in development

What did Meltzoff and Moore suggest?

Imitation is intentional