ON THE ECOLOGICAL VALIDITY OF MEASURING THE SENSITIVITY OF PROFESSIONAL CAREGIVERS - THE LABORATORY VERSUS THE NURSERY

Much research indicates the importance of interactional experience for young children in developing their competence. In particular sensitiv e responsiveness in interaction has been associated with beneficial de velopmental outcomes and is often regarded as a central component of g ood quality child care. This study considers some alternative ways of measuring the sensitivity of caregivers. Thirty professional caregiver -infant dyads were observed in three different situations: In the labo ratory during free-play (I), during a task (2) and at the nursery itse lf while caring for IO infants with a colleague (3). Results indicated that their sensitivity was highest in situation 1, this score was mod erately related to the sensitivity score in situation 2 and to that in the nursery. The sensitivity scores in situations 2 and 3 were not si gnificantly related. The data support the view that sensitivity is sub ject to contextual influences and that researchers need to think caref ully about the when and where of such measurements.