Assess whether research into attachment can be considered scientific. (8)

Question 1

Attachment types can be investigated using the strange situation procedure (SSP) developed by Ainsworth.

Answer 1

The SSP is structured and highly controlled, so eliminates any situational variables, which increases scientific credibility.

Question 2

Classifying attachment by typologies, such as secure (Type B), suggests attachment is a universal law of development.

Answer 2

Cassibba et al. (2001) replicated the SSP to measure attachment types in Italy suggesting typologies can be measured scientifically as they are objective universal laws.

Question 3

Individual differences in the temperament of a child can affect their attachment to their caregiver leading to subjectivity in research.

Answer 3

Fuertes et al. (2006) found individual differences to be a factor in the formation of attachment, so research using the SSP may not be scientific as it cannot eliminate this subjectivity.

Question 4

The strange situation procedure reduces attachment to the behaviours observed within the controlled observation setting.

Answer 4

Reductionism increases the scientific nature of the SSP as attachment behaviours can be operationalised and empirically observed.