1. Ainsworth strange situation

2. Ainsworth strange situation
Cut out the white strips. As you are watching the video, place the strips in the correct order

3. The Strange Situation was developed to measure four key categories of behaviour, including:
Response to reunion Exploration and secure base behaviour Separation anxiety Stranger anxiety Match the different categories of behaviour with the stages of the Strange Situation. Note: Each stage might measure more than one behaviour

4. Activity
While watching the video think about how the insecure avoidant and resistant infants behave in terms of:
Response to reunion
Exploration and secure base behaviour
Separation anxiety
Stranger anxiety
attachment avoidant
Insecure avoidant

5. On big boards- what type of attachment and why?
Ahmed is very clingy to his mother and won’t play with toys or explore the Centre. When his mother goes to the toilet and he is left with strangers in the room he gets extremely distressed, and can almost not breathe he is crying so much. When she returns he goes to her for a cuddle but hits her in the face at the same time and then will not leave her side for the rest of the time he is there.
Type:
Reasons:

6. Key question
How did Mary Ainsworth arrive at the precise procedure of the Strange Situation?

7. Pilot studies
Pilot studies are small scale versions of an investigation that are carried out before the real investigation is conducted. The purpose of them is to check that the procedure, materials and any other aspect of the study works; if anything does not work, this allows the researchers to change relevant aspects of the investigation before the full study is carried out.

8. If you were the observer…
How would you record the information that you observe? Two minutes decide. How would you make sure that the information you observe have inter-rater reliability? That is, if there is more than one observer, they agree on what they see. One minute to decide

9. Behaviour categories
Behavioural categories – when behaviour is broken down into components that are observable and measureable. If behavioural categories are used, inter-rater reliability should be high providing the categories used are good. Good behavioural categories are, clear, unambiguous, precise and are not an interpretation of behaviour but a description of behaviour. For instance smiling is a behaviour, being friendly is an interpretation of behaviour.

10. Key question How should behavioural categories be developed?
Initially the behaviour that is being observed should simply be watched
From here behavioural categories should be developed
Different observers should then discuss what the behavioural categories actually mean to ensure they are using them consistently and make any refinements necessary
Ideally the behavioural categories should be piloted to allow for further modification

11. Do you have exactly the same categories as your neighbour?
Now develop behavioural categories for the infant only following the guidelines previously given.
Do you have exactly the same categories as your neighbour?
What should be do next to ensure reliability of the observation if all of you are observers?

12. Deciding on class categories
Using the observation schedule sheet, decide on class categories and write in.
Possibles for categories include: crying, stop crying, picks up toy, laughs, walks/moves to mother, walks/moves to stranger, looks around room, looks to the door, walks to the door, touches mother but it really is up to the class.
Do we all agree on what we are looking for?

13. Activity: role play
In your groups of 4, you will each be given a particular attachment type – Secure, insecure avoidant, insecure resistant to create a short role-play for. Characters will include 1) Mother, 2) Infant, 2) Stranger and 4) Narrator. You will rehearse and perform the Strange Situation sequence for your attachment style. Make sure you go through ALL 8 stages and show the appropriate behaviours. (Attachment type: Justification)

14. Evaluating Ainsworth
Complete the following evaluation points for Ainsworth’s study
1. There may have been an issue with Demand characteristics in the study because……..
2. The study has inter-observer reliability because……….
3. The study is culturally bound because……..
4. The study depends on the care-giver used because………