Measures of mother-child interaction: a comparison of three methods

Three methods of recording mother-child interaction were compared in a sample of 136 adolescent mothers with children ranging in age from 8 to 27 months. Mother-child interaction was rated during in-home observations using Barnard's Teaching Scale, Schaefer's Attachment Inventory, and Clarke-Stewart's Rating Scales. The results indicate that each measure complements the other two, and that their interrelationships support the validity of the dimensions each describes. Yet, analyses indicate that they do not share common underlying factors. The findings suggest that each measure contributes to a more complete description of mother-child interaction.