Lesson plan: observational research and caregiver-infant interaction
Topic: Observational research and caregiver-infant interaction
Paper 1: Introductory topics in psychology: Attachment, AS 3.1.3, A-level 4.1.3
Paper 2: Psychology in context: Research methods, AS 3.2.3.1, A-level 4.2.3.1
The following is a sample lesson plan to help teachers to structure a one hour lesson to develop understanding of the nature and purpose of early interaction and practical observation research skills (year 1 scheme of work week 12). It is designed to be co-teachable in content for AS and A-level students. It is suggested as a guide only and can be amended to suit the teachers and their students’ needs.
Learning objectives
Develop an understanding of research into caregiver-infant interaction and an appreciation of issues surrounding collecting, analysing and interpreting observational data and understanding of how observational research can be refined by use of behavioural categories.
Learning outcomes
- All students should be able to outline event and time sampling.
- Some students should be able to explain how to implement event and time sampling.
- All students should be able to identify the behavioural responses of an infant during the Still face Experiment.
- All students should be able to design an observational activity using event sampling.
- All students should be able use math's skills to summarise the data collected from their observational study.
- All students should understand what is meant by reliability.
- All students should be able to judge whether their data is reliable or unreliable.
- Some students should be able to explain why the data is reliable/unreliable.
- Some students should be able to identify ways to improve reliability.
- Some students should be able to explain ways to improve reliability.
Prior knowledge needed
Prior knowledge: Research methods A-level 4.2.3 and AS 3.2.3, Approaches A-level 4.2.1 and AS 3.2.1
Understanding of the importance of caregiver-infant interaction, reciprocity and interactional synchrony
Lesson preparation
The following resources are required:
- Tronick's still face paradigm clips (use first clip for identification of behavioural categories).
YouTube: The Still Face Experiment
YouTube: Tronick's Still Face Paradigm
The Thoughtful Animal: Ed Tronick and the still face
- Observations in Psychology Tutorial
YouTube: Observations in psychology tutorial
- Hand-out
Simplypsychology: What is Reliability?
Activity
Duration | Activity | Group size | Learning objective |
|---|---|---|---|
2 minutes | Sharing of aims and objectives of lesson. Overview of the learning methodologies to be employed in the lesson. | Whole Group | Sharing of assessment objectives. |
3 minutes | Revisiting of prior learning in relation to caregiver interaction and its critical importance (contact, reciprocity and synchronicity). Use random student selector – when selected student has to contribute something that they recall from the topic Classtools: Random name picker. | Whole Group | All students should be able to identify behaviours related to caregiver interaction. Some students should be able to explain behaviours related to caregiver interaction. |
7 minutes | Research Methods: Observational method – teacher to provide an overview of the observational method and identifies the difference between event and time sampling. (Observations in Psychology Tutorial 0-4.07 mins. YouTube: Observations in psychology tutorial) Q&A/ whiteboard | Whole Group | All students should be able to outline event and time sampling. Some students should be able to explain time sampling. |
5 minutes | Brief introduction to Tronick's still face methods: YouTube: Still Face Experiment Students watch video clip followed by a learning dialogue where the tutor engages the learner in identifying the behaviours displayed by the infant during the still face experiment eg crying, smiling, noises, pointing etc. | Whole Group | All students should be able to identify the behaviours displayed by an infant during the still face experiment. |
6 minutes | Students split into pairs. Directed to produce an observational schedule using event sampling to undertake an observation of behaviour displayed by the infant during the Still Face Experiment video clips. Teacher to check schedules before the group embarks on the observation of four of the YouTube clips. | Pair activity | All students should be able to design a simple observation schedule. |
10 minutes | Students to undertake the observation of the Tronick Still Face Experiments using their observation schedule. Learners must not sit next to their partner during this part of the activity. | Individual activity | All students undertake an observational study using event sampling. |
3 minutes | Students to analyse and summarise their results using tables. | Individual activity | All students summarise the data collected from their observational study. |
5 minutes | Teacher overview of the concept of reliability in observations – hand-out. | Whole class | All students should be able to define what is meant by reliability. |
5 minutes | Pair Activity: Comparison of results with partner – each pair to judge if their observation was reliable or unreliable. Discuss possible reasons for the reliability/unreliability. | Pair activity | All students should be able to judge whether their data is reliable or unreliable. Some students should be able to explain why the data is unreliable. More able learners should be able to estimate the extent of the reliability of the observation. |
5 minutes | Group discussion of why some observations were reliable and some were unreliable. Through probing questions the teacher will elicit ways in which the reliability of the observation could be improved. Followed by brief video clip. Observations in Psychology Tutorial (8.54 mins-10.03mins) YouTube: Observations in psychology tutorial | Whole class | Most students should be able to suggest ways to improve reliability. Some students should be able to explain ways to improve reliability. |
7 minutes | Working in small groups the students are to produce a 'Short Guide to Improving Reliability in Observations'. Each group is to provide four key principles which would help improve reliability of future observational research. Students to complete for homework. | Group activity | All students should be able to identify ways to improve reliability. Some students should be able to explain ways to improve reliability. |
3 minutes | Review and consolidation of learning; teacher led Q&A | Whole class | Checking that content, research methods and maths skills learning objectives have been met. |
Further work and reading
Extension
- Psychology Research Methods: Crash Course Psychology
- YouTube: Psychological Research – Crash Course Psychology #2
Homework
Working in small groups the students are to produce a 'Short Guide to Improving the effectiveness of Observations'. Each group is to provide four key principles which would help improve future observational research. Students to complete for homework.