AN EXAMINATION OF THE INFLUENCE OF LABELING ON RATINGS OF INFANT BEHAVIOR: A PREMATURITY PREJUDICE
Abstract
Two fullterm and two preterm infants, matched for conceptional age, were videotaped while being administered six items from the Brazelton Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale. Each infant was alternately assigned the labels of "Preterm" and "Fullterm" to an equal number of subjects. Subjects were asked to rate infant performance on the Brazelton items, after which they rated the infant on several global rating scales. Subjects were also asked to report how confident they would feel in performing various caregiving tasks for the particular infant viewed. A 2 (rating instrument: objective Brazelton scale, subjective Likert scale) x 2 (label: preterm, fullterm) x 2 (sex of subject) between-subjects design was employed. Two hundred, fifty-six Purdue University undergraduates were assigned randomly to one of eight conditions. One-half of the subjects rated the infant's performance on the actual Brazelton scale; the other one-half rated the infant's performance on a subjective Likert scale. Results indicated that there was no labeling bias on the Brazelton items; the infant's behavior was found to be a more salient factor than the label attached to the infant in determining subjects' ratings. Subjects similarly reported no differences in confidence levels in performing various caregiving tasks for labeling preterm vs. labeled fullterm infants. On the global rating scales, subjects rated the labeled preterms to be significantly smaller, less enjoyable to interact with, more difficult to care for, less healthy, less sociable, and less cognitively competent than infants labeled as fullterm. This pattern of results was essentially similar for both male and female subjects, though females tended to rate all infants higher than the males did on many items. Interpretation of analyses and theoretical implications of a prematurity prejudice are discussed. Suggestions for future research are also presented.
Degree
Ph.D.
Subject Area
Psychotherapy
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