Convergent Validity of Two Measures of Attachment'

Abstract

The convergent and divergent validity of two methods for measuring the quality of infant-mother attachment, the Differential Social Reaction Procedure (DSRP) and the Strange Situation, were assessed using a sample of 21 infants between 15 and 18 months of age. The two procedures were administered on two separate days and scored by separate raters so as to minimize shared method variance. In addition, the infants were observed in a Free Play situation in the same session as the DSRP. Behaviors in the Free Play and the DSRP were scored by the same rater. Despite this shared method variance there was only minimal correlation, as expected, between them. On the other hand, there were significant correlations between the DSRP and the Strange Situation.

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