Psychology

This is an observation that was conducted so as to determine and analyze the mouthing behavior that is commonly found in young children. The research is conducted on young children who are between eight and three years old. The observation or rather the research is conducted on a total of two hundred and ninety children.  These children were divided into three phases. The first phase consisted of thirty children who were observed for one day. The second phase consisted of ninety two children who were observed for five consecutive days. The third phase consisted of one hundred and sixty eight children who were observed for nonconsecutive days for two months. The children were supposed to be observed by their parents in their normal environment. The focus was supposed to be on the total mouthing time irrespective of the pacifiers.

The instruments that were to be used in the research are a stop watch which was supposed to record the mouthing time and a pen and a notebook which was supposed to record the details from one child to the next and different types of instrument such as toys and plastic which the children often use. A stop watch is the most reliable tool to use in this type of research as it is more accurate than guessing or rather estimating time. The mother of the child is also the most reliable person to conduct the observation as she raise little or no attention to the child that heshe is being observed.

This study uses one-way MANOVA type of testing as it uses different independent variables which happens to be the different groups of children that are observed to do the research. In addition, it uses these groups by pooling them together and coming up with a conclusion that the mouthing behavior is dependent of type of item mouthed and the age.

In this case, the design can be termed as more appropriate by using the mother to conduct the research. However, to some children depending on the way they have been raised, there is a chance that the presence of the mother may have interfered with the results obtained. Some parents are known to forbid their children from mouthing and her presence may have had an effect. I would therefore have recommended the use of some hidden cameras in the room where the children are. This would not have any interference as the child will not be aware that heshe is being watched.