Introducing a Novel Online Observation of Parenting Behavior: Reliability and Validation. (3rd April 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Oliver, Bonamy R.; Pike, Alison
• Is Part Of: Parenting, science and practice. Volume 21:Number 2(2021)
• Page Start: 168
• Page End: 183
• Publication Date: 2021-04-03
• Subjects: Parenting -- Periodicals; Parent and child -- Periodicals; Child rearing -- Periodicals; 649.105
• DOI: 10.1080/15295192.2019.1694838
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1529-5192

Abstract

SYNOPSIS: Objective . Observations of parents with their children are important for better understanding the critical role that parents play in their children's adjustment, but resource limitations commonly compromise assessment. A novel online observation tool, Etch-a-Sketch Online (ESO), is introduced that allows resource-efficient observations in the family home. Design . Study 1 was a preliminary, cross-sectional study of 20 mothers with their singleton children ( M = 5.96 years). Mothers were observed using both ESO (recorded via Skype) and a traditional Etch-a Sketch task recorded during a home-visit; mothers' positive and negative parenting was coded from these observations. Study 2 was a longitudinal study of 119 mothers and their young twins. Mothers' ESO-observed positive parenting and negative parenting at Time 1 ( M = 5.51 years) were examined as predictors of children's disruptive behavior at Time 2 ( M = 6.04 years) controlling for mothers' Time 2 self-reported positive and negative parenting. Results . Study 1 provided preliminary evidence of inter-rater reliability and convergent validity of ESO-observations. Study 2 supported this evidence of inter-rater reliability and ESO's convergent validity as well as providing predictive validity. ESO-observed parenting at Time 1 was associated with children's disruptive behavior at Time 2, over and above concurrent maternal reports of their own parenting. Conclusions . ESO shows promise in providing the means for detailed assessment of parenting processes in the home.