Competence in the Early Years and its Relationship to Caretaker Behaviors

Author

Anita M. Frank

Publication Date

9-4-1979

Abstract

Competence is a multidimensional concept which involves the intellectual, motivational and socio-emotional domains. Though competence in early childhood is to some extent dependent on factors such as genetic input, perceptuo-motor ability and temperamental characteristics, the quality of the environment often plays a determining role in enhancing its development. This study was designed to investigate changes in caretaker behaviors as a function of the child's age and to assess the relationship between caretaker behaviors and indices of the child's motivational and intellectual competence. The investigation was conducted in two phases. During the first phase, forty caretakers were observed and videotaped while playing with their infants, who ranged in age from nine to twenty-four months, in a laboratory setting. The major purpose of the first phase was to ascertain if caretaker behaviors differed across the four delineated age groups. Results indicated that caretakers are more sensitive to and involved in less physical contact with the older children. During the second phase, which was conducted a year and a half later, sixteen of the original forty caretaker-infant pairs were observed and videotaped again while playing in a laboratory setting. In addition, a Stanford-Binet intelligence test was administered to the sixteen children. The focus of the second phase was on the child's intellectual and motivational competence as manifested by its I.Q. score and its intensity of play and the time it spent in intellectually­challenging activities. Results indicated that caretaker sensitivity and caretaker intrusiveness observed when the children were in their second year of life were related to both the child's motivational and intellectual competence assessed during its third year. Further, a path analysis suggested that the effect of caretaker sensitivity on the child's I.Q. score is mediated through the motivational variable of intensity of play.

Document Type

Dissertation

Language

English

Degree Name

Educational Leadership

Level of Degree

Doctoral

Department Name

Teacher Education, Educational Leadership & Policy

First Committee Member (Chair)

Wayne Paul Moellenberg

Second Committee Member

Vera Polgar John-Steiner

Third Committee Member

Francis S. Harnick

Fourth Committee Member

Candace Garrett Schau

Recommended Citation

Frank, Anita M.. "Competence in the Early Years and its Relationship to Caretaker Behaviors." (1979). https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/educ_teelp_etds/522