Schaffer and Emerson evaluation

Schaffer and Emerson evaluation

1. Carried out in families homes- naturalistic setting familiar to the child, realistic everyday situation for parents and child = high ecological validity

2. Childs behaviour natural- to young to be affected be observer effects or demand characteristics= high internal validity

3. Mother’s asked questions/kept a diary gathers in-depth qualitative data also = increases validity

4. Longitudinal study- uses same ppt’s therefore individual differences not affect results= high internal validity

5. The data collected by the researchers was based on mothers’ reports of their infants- bias as mother’s show social desirability to be seen favorably

6. Negative experiences not report, reduces validity

7. Cultural/time affect styles in child rearing can not be applied to other cultures

8. Low in generalizability- 60 babies/carers used limited sample BUT all from same city, time (1960’s) and social class not representative of target population.

9. This study was conducted in the 1960’s, could result in this study not being applicable anymore, anything changed? is it replicable?

10. families judged on these inflexible stages. If their child's attachment do not follow the stages it could reflect badly on them

11. give no distinguish between playmate and caregiver

12. Collectivist cultures- believe multiple attachments occur before single attachments- many people contribute to the care of the child

13. at stage 1 babys are too young and have have poor coordination. they are immobile.. so hard to make judgments on behaviour as their hardly is any. therefore eveidence is unreliable