Attachment- Schaffer and Emerson (1964)

Attachment- Schaffer and Emerson (1964)

1. Looked at the gradual development of attachments

   • Studied 60 babies in Glasgow, visiting them monthly for the first year of their lives and returning again at 18 months.
     • Collected data on attachment by considering two types of behaviour: Separation anxiety and Stranger distress

2. Used variety of methods to collect their data including observation and interviewing.

   • During each visit, they would approach the baby and see if they cried, whimpered or shown signs of distress at a strange face
     • each visit, they interviewed the mothers, asking them about the babies response to various situations (when baby sitter left the room etc)

3. the mothers were asked to rate the babies behaviour using a four-point scale from zero 'no protest shown' to three 'cries loudly every time'

4. Methodological issues

   • Used a variety of methods of data collection here including observation and interview. These methods provide data that is very rich in data- triangulation
   • Babies were observed by the researchers in their own homes and mothers were asked to rate their babies response to separation in a wide range of everyday situations. Both of these measurements make the study high in ecological validity

5. Ethical issues

   • As the research took place in the babies' own home, the situation was relatively un stressful for the babies and their mothers
     • This is important as researchers should ensure that minimal psychological harm takes place.