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The child attachment Q-sort: development, training, and validation

Tsiokris, A; (2015) The child attachment Q-sort: development, training, and validation. Doctoral thesis , UCL (University College London). Green open access

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Abstract

The present thesis describes the development of the Child Attachment Q-sort (CAQ), an alternative approach to assessing quality of attachment in middle childhood, currently offered by the Child Attachment Interview (CAI). Although, the same semi-structured interview is used to activate the attachment system of the child and elicit the information necessary for coding, the CAQ departs in the method used for coding and classification. It differs in that raters are required to use Q-sorting to assess the attachment classification of each child based on direct and specific observations making it more behaviorally based rather than inferential. Further, the training system of the CAQ was designed with the intention of requiring limited formal training and attachment knowledge, thereby increasing its usability and application in both research and potential clinical settings. Furthermore, this method provides the opportunity to develop a standard language for attachment classification in middle childhood, whereas the language used in the CAI coding system is at an advanced conceptual level. Overall the CAQ attempted to simplify the process and retain classification at the observational level, offering an alternative approach to assessing attachment and contributing to a new way of thinking about it, while also making it available to a wider range of professionals. The psychometric properties of the CAQ were assessed by examining the reliability across various coders and samples and the main findings are reported. All major aspects of validity of the CAQ were assessed and the findings are presented. Overall the findings support the notion that the CAQ could be used as a reliable and valid instrument for measuring attachment in middle childhood.

Type: Thesis (Doctoral)
Title: The child attachment Q-sort: development, training, and validation
Event: UCL (University College London)
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
Language: English
UCL classification: UCL
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Brain Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Brain Sciences > Div of Psychology and Lang Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Brain Sciences > Div of Psychology and Lang Sciences > Clinical, Edu and Hlth Psychology
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/1470846
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