Summary
In this paper we have examined the comparability of data obtained via verbal report and via continuous observation of live mother-child dyadic behavior. In relatively few areas do the mothers distribute themselves similarly on the two procedures, with the tendency to express positive affect and to use intense cognitive teaching patterns representing possible exceptions. One obvious reason for the lack of significant associations is that the observation in the present experimental situation was too brief to permit behaviors inquired about in the verbal report procedure to appear in the observational session. Thus we have concluded that at this juncture one still is not justified in recommending dismissal of verbal report as a meaningful data-gathering procedure. However, there appears to be no substitute in verbal report procedures for the opportunity provided by continuous observation to see how one person's behavior is influenced by the output of the other person in the dyad.
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This work was supported by grant D-156 from the Children's Bureau, Department of Health, Education, and Welfare.
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Honig, A.S., Tannenbaum, J. & Caldwell, B.M. Maternal behavior in verbal report and in laboratory observation: A methodological study. Child Psych Hum Dev 3, 216–230 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01433217
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01433217