| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Description | The Infant Characteristics Interview (Thomas et al., 1963) is a parental report designed to assess infant behavior during the first two years of life. It emphasizes observing the child’s responses to new stimuli and tracking patterns of behavior over time. The interview explores various topics including siblings, obstetrical history, neonatal period, parental responsibilities, personality descriptions, and daily living details (e.g., sleep, feeding, and crying). Interviews were structured yet flexible, lasting 1-2 hours in the first year and 2-4 hours in the second year. |
| Author | Thomas, Alexander; Chess, Stella; Birch, Herbert G.; Hertzig, Margaret E.; Korn, Sam |
| Affiliation | No specific affiliation provided |
| Purpose | To serve as a parental report of infant behavior during the child’s first two years of life. |
| Construct | Infant Characteristics |
| Instrument Type | Interview Schedule/Guide |
| Format | Structured but flexible interview, with semischeduled questioning |
| Administration Method | Interview |
| Test Items Available | No (To access the test items, contact the publisher.) |
| Reliability | No reliability indicated |
| Validity | No validity indicated |
| Factor Analysis | No factor analysis indicated |
| Test Methodology | No psychometric information provided |
| Age Group | Childhood (birth-12 years); Neonatal (birth – 1 month); Infancy (2-23 months); Preschool Age (2-5 years); Adulthood (18 years & older) |
| Population Group | Human |
| Population Details | Sample: Parents of children aged >2 years |
| Keywords | Infant Characteristics Interview; Parental Report; Test Development |
| Index Terms | Developmental Measures; Infant Development; Test Construction; Child Characteristics; Parent Report |
| Reference | Thomas, A., Chess, S., Birch, H. G., Hertzig, M. E., & Korn, S. (1963). Data collection. In A. Thomas, S. Chess, H. G. Birch, M. E. Hertzig, & S. Korn, Behavioral individuality in early childhood (pp. 24–34). New York University Press. https://doi.org/10.1037/14328-003 |
Cite this article
Mohammed looti (2026). Infant Characteristics Interview. PSYCHOLOGICAL SCALES. Retrieved from https://scales.arabpsychology.com/s/infant-characteristics-interview/
Mohammed looti. "Infant Characteristics Interview." PSYCHOLOGICAL SCALES, 4 Apr. 2026, https://scales.arabpsychology.com/s/infant-characteristics-interview/.
Mohammed looti. "Infant Characteristics Interview." PSYCHOLOGICAL SCALES, 2026. https://scales.arabpsychology.com/s/infant-characteristics-interview/.
Mohammed looti (2026) 'Infant Characteristics Interview', PSYCHOLOGICAL SCALES. Available at: https://scales.arabpsychology.com/s/infant-characteristics-interview/.
[1] Mohammed looti, "Infant Characteristics Interview," PSYCHOLOGICAL SCALES, vol. X, no. Y, ص Z-Z, April, 2026.
Mohammed looti. Infant Characteristics Interview. PSYCHOLOGICAL SCALES. 2026;vol(issue):pages.