Time-sampling caretaker and infant behavior in the first five weeks of life

UNCG Author/Contributor (non-UNCG co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
Kathleen Bloom (Creator)
Institution
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG )
Web Site: http://library.uncg.edu/
Advisor
Eugene McDowell

Abstract: The behaviors of six male and six female infants and their caretakers in a private adoption agency were time-sampled and recorded by means of a checklist of 26 items. The infant-caretaker activities were observed on each of the first five weeks of the infant's life. The frequencies of the items of behavior were measured and the data were described with a trend analysis. Developmental changes were noted and it was found that there was differential treatment of the sexes by the caretakers. This occurred in a complex of activities centered around the feeding of solid food to the infants. Solid food was added to the male infants' diets at three weeks of age, whereas the majority of females were not fed solid food until the fourth week of life. Consequently, all behaviors which were involved in the feeding of solid food to the infants showed either the main effect of sex or sex-week interaction. These behaviors included: "Feeds", "Pats", "Looks at Face", "Holds", "In Crib", "In Arms", and "Eats". Therefore, it was concluded that the infants who were observed in this institution were treated differentially by the caretakers and that the time-sampling technique can be employed in a longitudinal design which assesses both caretaking and infant behaviors.

Additional Information

Publication
Thesis
Language: English
Date: 1970
Subjects
Infants $x Development
Infants $x Care
Sex role

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