title: The concept of coherence in attachment interviews: comparing attachment experts, linguists, and non-experts.
abstract: Coherence is a central construct in attachment interviews. Nevertheless, the concept has never been the main focus of a study in the attachment field. The present study examined whether coherence in attachment interviews is defined differently by experts trained in attachment theory, by linguists, and by non-experts. The 72-item Coherence Q-sort (CQS) was used to determine the profile of a prototypical coherent interview. Results indicated that attachment experts could be reliably distinguished from the (combined) other groups: attachment experts emphasized quality and manner more than all other groups, linguists emphasized quantity and relevance more than attachment experts, and higher educated non-experts valued relevance more than attachment experts. Defining coherence in attachment interviews is thus more than just applying Grice's linguistic maxims; expertise in attachment theory is critical for defining interview coherence. Consequences for the coding of the AAI by non-attachment experts, as well as computer coding (im)possibilities are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Child and Family Studies, Leiden University, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Mariëlle D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Beijersbergen
authors.forename: Marian J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Bakermans-Kranenburg
authors.forename: Marinus H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Van Ijzendoorn
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D007802:Language; D008037:Linguistics; D008875:Middle Aged; D009769:Object Attachment; D010865:Pilot Projects