Methodological issues in conducting research on parent-infant attachment.

The study of the parent's attachment to his or her infant has recently become a research topic of great interest to parent-child nursing practitioners. The parent-infant relationship has been examined using a variety of methodological approaches. Brazelton Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale demonstrations, home and laboratory observations, process recordings, videotape analyses, self-reported questionnaires, and developmental screening tools have all been used by researchers to measure the quality of this earliest form of human attachment. However, there are rising concerns as to the validity of attachment research in general, as well as methodological limitations in collecting data on parent-infant interactions. This article discusses issues of methodological concern in attachment research and makes suggestions to strengthen validity.