Comparison of mothers' with trained- observers' reports of neonatal behavioral style*

Selected mothers with childbirth Delivery-Complications and Optimum-Deliveries observed their newborn infants' behaviors during overlapping 8 and 24 hour periods, using preset standard observation conventions, and a behavior rating scale for their reports. Trained-Observers reported on the infants' behaviors during the same 8-hour period, using the same scale. While overall maternal observation reliability levels were good, these were found to conceal selective and systematic biases which markedly understated differences between easy and difficult infants. Findings support the view that maternal reports are social perceptions, incorporating information about both child and parental characteristics. Viewed in this way, they have considerable value. However, unsubstantiated maternal ratings cannot be used as objective measures of newborns' individual behavioral styles.