A Sequential Analysis of Mother - Infant Interaction
Jin Kyong Choae
Abstract
The purpose of this study was the application of sequential analysis to mother-infant interaction data, with particular reference to goodness of fit. The subjects of this study were 22 7- to 16-month-old infants(12 girls and 10 boys) and their mothers. Each mother-infant dyad was videotaped in a 5-min free-play session in the playroom. The videotaped data was transcribed on the behavioral checklist every 3 seconds. The recorded raw data were lagged by one time interval (3 sec.). Transitional probabilities from behavior at time t-1 to behavior at time t were gathered. The statistical analysis of frequency data and transitional probabilities consisted of Z test, t test, and sign test. It was found that regarding 1) direction of effect: the transitional probability of infant vocalization following maternal vocalization was significantly higher than the reverse; the transitional probability of a `Coacting State` following a `Mother Active State` was significantly higher than the reverse; the probability of a `Mother Active State` following `Quiescent State` was significantly higher than that of a `Coacting State` following an `Infant Active State`; 2) sex differences: male infants` transitional probability from an `Infant Active State` to a `Quiescent State` was significantly higher than that of female infants; 3) age differences: more than younger infants older infants had higher transitional probabilities from a `Mother Active State` to a `Coacting State`, from a `Parallel State` to a `Coacting State`, and from a `Quiescent State` to a `Parallel State`. These showed goodness of fit for sex and age differences, particularily for direction of effect.
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