May 10, 2018 - The original protocol and details on coding can be found here: Cassidy, J. ... We will wait 3 minutes and then mom can go back in. ⢠We ask that ...
5/10/2018 Helping, Sharing, and Comforting in Young Children: Links to Individual Differences in Attachment Beier, Gross, Brett, Stern, Martin, & Cassidy (2018), Child Development Supplementary Information 2: Preschool Strange Situation Protocol As reported in the main research article, this study assessed children’s attachments from behaviors exhibited during the Preschool Strange Situation Procedure. This document provides details on the adaptation of this procedure for the present study. The original protocol and details on coding can be found here: Cassidy, J., Marvin, R. S., & MacArthur Working Group. (1992). Attachment organization in preschool children: Procedures and coding manual (Version 5.2). Unpublished manuscript. University of Virginia.
2 Preschool Strange Situation Script
Overview of segments: 1) Familiarization: Mom and child in room – 3 minutes 2) First Separation: Mom leaves, child alone – 3 minutes 3) First Reunion: Mom enters, mom and child in room – 3 minutes 4) Second Separation: Mom leaves, child alone – 5 minutes 5) Second Reunion: Mom enters, mom and child in room – 3 minutes This document presents an outline of the how the procedure should work in an ideal world. Not every Strange Situation will go this smoothly. Note: E1 = Experimenter 1; E2 = Experimenter 2 Preparation for procedure: • During the welcome procedure, E1 told mom that a knock indicated she should leave the room and gave her a written reminder indicating this as well. • Before the family enters the playroom, E1 is in the observation room, recording. Procedure: E2 (at the playroom door): “Welcome to our playroom! I have a few things to set up, so you two can head in and have some fun! (E2 opens door and gestures for Mom and Child to enter.) [Mom's name], we have a chair for you to sit in, so we ask that you sit right over there. We also ask that [child] not play with any toys from home or cell phones. I’ll be back in a little bit! Can I take your coats?” 1) Familiarization: Mom and child will be alone in the room for 3 minutes. After closing the door, E1 starts timer for 3 minutes. At 3 minutes, E1 knocks gently on the window, signaling mom to leave. 2) First Separation: Child will be alone in the room for 3 minutes. When mom comes out, E2 holds the door closed. E2 directs mom back to observation room by pointing at and asking her to follow the green arrows. When mom reaches the observation room, E1 greets her and tells her: • • • •
We will wait 3 minutes and then mom can go back in. We ask that mom please sit in the red chair again. When she hears another knock, she'll leave again. Ask that mom not let child know we can see them back here. If mom asks why we're doing this: "We are interested in what kids do when their parents aren’t around. There is no right way or wrong way to act – all kids react differently!”
3 Send mom back to the playroom so that she arrives at the 3-minute mark. Don't let her know it's a reunion. Say, "Ok, you can head in now. You'll hear another knock and that's your cue to leave again."
3) First Reunion: Mom enters the room and is alone with her child for three minutes. After 3 minutes, E1 will knock again. 4) Second Separation: Child will be alone for 5 minutes. Repeat the separation procedure. This time, when mom comes back again to observation room, tell her: • •
We will wait 5 minutes and then she can go back in. It is ok to comment on how cute her child is, but don't make it seem like we're evaluating child's performance on anything.
Send mom back to playroom so that she enters at the 5-minute mark. 5) Second Reunion: Mom enters the room and will be alone with her child for three minutes. When mom enters, E2 comes back around to observation room and begins preparing for the next portion of the visit. After 3 minutes, E1 shuts off the cameras and joins E2 in front of the playroom door. They enter together with the new toys and say hello to both mom and child.
