Development of an Observational Procedure for Assessment of Parent-Child Interaction.

The feasibility of using an observational rating schedule to elicit information about parent-child interaction was studied. The Parent-Child Interaction Rating Procedure (P-CIRP), focusing specifically on parent-child interaction with a structured teaching task, was developed for this purpose. The interaction setting is teaching the child simple two-dimensional sorting tasks. Three tasks were used: a toy sort, an eight-block sort, and a nine-block sort. Each task involves a three-part session: the examiner explains the task to the parent; the examiner leaves the room and the parent teaches the child the task; and the examiner returns to test the child's task performance with the parent present, but not intervening, so that the behavior of both the parent and child can be rated. All three parts of each session are videotaped. The P-Cirp, developed for assessment of the videotaped interaction, is composed of three parts--a general information section, a rating form section for the parent-child teaching period and the session, and a rating form section for the parent-child-examiner testing period. Information recorded for each section is described. Rating procedures and usability are discussed and illustrated. Preliminary analyses of data obtained from about 100 preschool children (1-1/2 to 5 years old) and their parents over a 3-year period indicate that the P-CIRP is equally appropriate for the diverse groups with which it has been used and that it does provide a sensitive measure of parent-child interaction. Appendixes present the Parent-Child Interaction Rating Procedure Code Definitions, and Rating Forms. (DB)