Caregiver-infant interactions: Meltzoff & Moore

Question 1

what are some limitations of Meltzoff & Moore’s research

Answer 1

• overlooked individual differences
• questionable reliability

Question 2

how did Meltzoff & Moore overlook individual differences

Answer 2

• Isabella et al found that the more securely attached the children are the greater the level of interactional synchrony
• Meltzoff & Moore did not take attachment type into consideration and generalised results to all children which is not the case

Question 3

why does Metlzoff & Moore’s research have a questionable reliability

Answer 3

• infant’s mouths are constantly moving and the expressions that were tested occur often
• this makes it difficult to distinguish between general activity and imitated behaviour so findings become less reliable

Question 4

what are some strengths of Meltzoff & Moore’s research

Answer 4

research supports children’s intentionality

Question 5

what research supports children’s intentionality and how

Answer 5

• Abravanel & DeYong observed children’s behaviour when interacting with two objects, one that would move their tongue and the other would move their mouth
• found that infants made little response to the objects suggesting they do not imitate everything they see but it is a specific response they show to specific humans