Ainsworth’s Strange Situation

Question 1

Weakness: lacks ecological validity

Answer 1

Research takes place in a controlled environment, may not be appropriate to generalise the findings to real life attachment types, infant may not behave as they usually do, may explore room less or be more scared of a stranger, lowers external validity

Question 2

Strength: high in reliability

Answer 2

Because it was conducted in a controlled setting, room with two way mirror, using a standardised procedure, each variable assessed in 3 minute intervals, observation can be repeated again in same conditions in order to check for consistent results, has been carried out successfully in many different cultures

Question 3

Strength: RTS by VAN IZJENDOORN and KROONENBERG

Answer 3

replicated the strange situation in the USA and found consistent results to Ainsworth, 65% of infants were securely attached, 21% insecure avoidant, 14% insecure resistant, providing support for strange situation