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Taxometric Analysis of Secure Base Script Knowledge in Middle Childhood Reveals Categorical Latent Structure
Author(s) -
Waters Theodore E.A.,
Facompré Christopher R.,
Dujardin Adinda,
Van De Walle Magali,
Verhees Martine,
Bodner Najda,
Boldt Lea J.,
Bosmans Guy
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
child development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.103
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1467-8624
pISSN - 0009-3920
DOI - 10.1111/cdev.13229
Subject(s) - psychology , categorical variable , normative , developmental psychology , cognitive psychology , computer science , philosophy , epistemology , machine learning
Taxometric investigation of scripted attachment representations in lateadolescence and adulthood suggests that variations in secure base script knowledge consist of differences in degree (dimensional latent structure) rather than differences in kind (categorical latent structure). However, the latent structure of secure base script knowledge in younger cohorts has gone unexplored. This study presents a downward extension of prior taxometric work using the middle childhood version of the Attachment Script Assessment in a cross‐sectional sample of 639 normative‐risk children (age 8 to 13 years; M = 10.77, SD = 1.06). Results suggest that secure base script knowledge in middle childhood is categorically distributed. Taxometric curves revealed three distinct taxa, highlighting discontinuity in the latent structure of scripted attachment representations across development.