A Sequential Analysis of Mother-Infant Interaction

연속적 분석법을 통한 어머니와 유아의 상호작용 연구

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.