Video Observations of Dyadic Interaction: Behaviour style of Presymbolic Children

Jenny Wilder

doi:10.1080/15017410801900390

Abstract

Research has shown that the behaviour style of children with multiple disabilities who do not use symbols in their communication affects their interaction with others. This study investigated the patterns of caregiver–child interaction and the relation between patterns of interaction and behaviour style in seven children with multiple disabilities who do not use symbols. Purposive sampling was employed and video recordings of caregiver–child interaction were performed during home visits. The results showed that the children's behaviour style and how easily the children could be interpreted were factors that the caregivers used to monitor the interaction and obtain more frequent periods of successful interaction. By triangulation of instruments the caregivers were shown to be well aware of the roles children and parents had in the dyadic interaction.

Highlights

There exists a reciprocal and binary exchange between the parts in the family system (Duis, Summers & Summers 1997, Sameroff & Fiese 2000)
The caregivers felt that they had a leading role in interaction and they were sensitive to the children’s behaviour in order to use strategies to promote successful interaction. These findings provided the background for this study, which used video recordings to investigate further the dynamics of dyadic interaction and their relation to the child’s personal characteristics
This study investigated the dynamics of the interaction and their relationship to behaviour style in seven families with children with multiple disabilities who functioned pre-symbolically

Summary

Introduction

There exists a reciprocal and binary exchange between the parts in the family system (Duis, Summers & Summers 1997, Sameroff & Fiese 2000). The family is the major influence affecting the growth and development of children (Lin 2000, Shonkoff & Phillips 2002), and correspondingly the child influences the wellbeing of the family. It is essential not to separate child and context (Lewis 2000). Interaction patterns between a child and his/her caregivers must be assessed and intervened with in relation to the family system (McCollum & Hemmeter 1997). This study aims to investigate the patterns for how caregiverÁchild interaction would present itself for dyads where the child has multiple disabilities and communicate on a presymbolic level. The aim is to study how a personal characteristic such as behaviour style influences dyadic interaction

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion