evaluation of the strange situation

strange situation considered as reliable as if repeated with the same people, the same results are recorded

when observations use two observers, the observational checklists show the same results

• describes if the investigation is measuring what its suposed to be- checks how accurate the results are
• some researchers argued that it isn't a valid measure of attachment type as in some cases babies have a different classification depending who they are with, suggesting the strange situation actually measure relationship and not attachment type

• if the results can be generalised to the rest of the target population
• the original study was only conducted with 26 middle class american families, so we can't be sure that we will get the same results in other cultures
• also, 26 is a small sample size

• measures if results can be generalised to real life situations
• observation carried out in a lab, very artifical envrionment creating low levels of ecological validity. wasn't what the baby was used to, meaning they could have changed their behaviour and appear more stressed and upset than if they were at home

• predictions made in the strange situation tend to be accurate
• Type A baby will grow up to be shy
• Type B baby will grow up to be popular, confident and a social leader
• Type C baby will grow up to be attention seeking and moody