MACI Training: Frequently Asked Questions

1. I am really interested in the MACI-Infant. Can I use it without training?

The different kinds of behaviour that we see in caregivers and infants can vary widely, and in the MACI-Infant, coding in each global scale requires close examination of a various factors, including the frequency, duration, qualities and contextual considerations of particular behaviours. Use of the MACI-Infant, therefore, requires substantial specialist training, in common with other similar observational measures.

Our training package has been designed to provide the trainee with sufficient coding practice, face-to-face and remotely, before undergoing the reliability assessment. Obtaining reliability is crucial at the end of the training phase in order to become a certified reliable coder, after which the coder can use the MACI-Infant for research purposes. We also ask that trainees complete the reliability within 12 months of the workshop they attended (and preferably within 6 months), since our experience is that trainees who leave it too long can easily forget their initial training and any earlier practice coding feedback they received.

2. Is the MACI-Infant a validated instrument?

The MACI has been validated in a normative sample, which has now been published:

Wan, M. W., Brooks, A., Green, J., Abel, K., & Elmadih, A. (2016). Psychometrics and validation of a brief rating measure of parent-infant interaction: Manchester assessment of caregiver–infant interaction.International Journal of Behavioral Development, 0165025416631835.

There have also been a number of further publications using the MACI in at-risk and normative groups which add to the measure’s validity. We are keen to hear from any groups who would like to further explore the validity of the instrument in particular groups, or cultural contexts.

Please note that the MACI is not a measure of parent-child attachment, but does examine caregiver sensitivity.

3. I’ve seen slightly different versions of the MACI. Which is the up-to-date one?

The measure has evolved as more studies have been conducted using it, and is now called the MACI-Infant, or in full: Manchester Assessment of Caregiver-Child Interaction – Infant Version. As we now also have the MACI-Toddler (an adapted and extended version), we changed part of the ‘MACI’ umbrella acronym from ‘Infant’ to ‘Child’.

The current version of the MACI-Infant comprises 8 scales: 2 caregiver scales (sensitive responsiveness, nondirectiveness), 4 infant scales (attentiveness to caregiver, positive affect, negative affect, liveliness) and 2 dyadic scales (mutuality, intensity of engagement). One of the main changes has been the inclusion of the ‘infant negative affect’ scale, whereas negative afect was previously incorporated into a single infant (‘positive’) affect scale. This change was in large part in response to our findings in the validation paper.

The MACI-Infant was previously called SIM-PI until 2013.

4. Who is the training aimed a? Are there any prerequisites?

The training is suitable for researchers who wish to study the qualities or global aspects of caregiver-infant interaction from videotaped clips (6 minutes) in a systematic way. The measure is therefore a research, rather than clinical, tool.

The training assumes a general understanding of parenting behaviour, infant development, and especially, the concept of caregiver sensitivity. Experience of working with parents and/or infants is helpful. However, no prior experience in observing caregiver-infant interactions in a research context is needed. Potential trainees should consider the time commitment needed to train and pass reliability before applying, which has a 12 month limit.

5. I see that the MACI is suitable for 4-15 month olds, but can I go outside this age range?

We recommend the MACI-Toddler for 12-36 month old children, which has been adapted from MACI-Infant and has 9 scales. We have demonstrated continuity on some of the scales from the infant version. The MACI-Infant can be used for 3-month-olds but young infants tend to be more suited to face-to-face interaction, which would require another measurement tool.

6. How does the MACI relate to micro-analytic measures of parent-infant interaction?

The MACI is a rating measure of interaction based on global observations over the course of the clip. This approach describes qualitative aspects of interaction, and does not provide counts or durations of behaviour. If you wish to measure how often the child looks at the caregiver, for example, then this must be measured separately.

7. Can I use the MACI as a screening tool for infants at risk of autism?

This measure has not been designed to be nor validated as a screening tool. It is possible to take a cut-off score based on a theoretically or statistically-derived basis for a study sample in the case of research, but there is no individual cut-off point for ‘at-risk’ interaction. However, the MACI can be used to track any changes in interaction via parenting-based or relationship-based intervention. We have published a series of papers based on our BASIS-VIPP intervention (see Green et al. in references).

8. Can the same person be administrator and coder/rater of a given parent-infant dyad?

Yes, but the coder must rate blind to any information about the family. Since the administrator often also collects other information about the family (or the family freely shares this information during a study session – this is not really possible to control for), it may not be possible for the administrator to remain blind. Therefore, usually, it is necessary for a different person to videotape the interaction, who does not have to be a reliable coder.

If the administrator has not undergone MACI training, some experience taking videotaped interactions is strongly recommended to prevent collecting ‘uncodeable’ video clips. To facilitate this, we offer a videotaped interaction feedback service for a small fee.

9. What equipment will I need?

Equipment is fairly minimal: A camcorder, and a small selection of toys and floor mat are required, and more detail is given during training over the specifics. Fixed cameras in a lab can also be used, but we prefer a hand-held camcorder.

10. How often do you run the MACI-Infant and MACI-Toddler training?

This will depend on demand. You can contact us to let us know of your interest and to be on our mailing list. Once a training workshop is organised, information will be posted on these webpages. We have not yet arranged MACI-Toddler training, but this can be provided as an add-on to those already trained in the MACI-Infant. It is not advised to train in both at the same time

 

11. What does the MACI-Infant training fee include?

The training package comprises:

• A 3-day small-group workshop covering:
  • Background presentation to the MACI-Infant
  • Detailed discussion of each area of caregiver-infant interaction with exemplars
  • Practice coding exercises: Small-group and individual coding activities
  • Training in set-up and administration
  • Comprehensive grounding for independent coding exercises
• Presentation slides, MACI-Infant coding manual, other guidance materials and forms, and a certificate of attendance  
• Lunches and refreshments for the 3 days, and an evening reception
• Post-workshop practice materials and up to 5 rounds of personalised feedback
  • Practice clips (up to 3 sets of clips, with 2 additional feedbacks if needed)
• Assessment materials with feedback in MACI coding reliability
  • Reliability clips (2 sets with feedback)
  • Certification as a reliable coder on passing
• Review and assessment of MACI administration
  • Personalised feedback on a sample clip; up to 2 iterations

You will need to arrange your own accommodation, and we can help with suggestions.

The fee does not include any further practice materials/feedbacks that may be required beyond that stated above. If the participant does not take and pass reliability assessment within 12 months of the initial workshop, then re-training or further training is required.

12. How long will it take to complete training?

Learning to code caregiver-infant interactions and achieving inter-rater reliability require an intense period of training, and regular practice and supervision. These requirements are reflected in the design of the training package. As with all specialist trainings of this kind, this programme carries a substantial time commitment in the region of 70-95 hours (including the workshop) if you pass the first time.

How fast training can be completed depends largely on: (1) how soon you start the different phases of training; (2) how regularly you practice coding and how conscientiously clips are re-reviewed in parallel with feedback; and (3) your own rating accuracy, which will be influenced by observational skill and previous experience. We have personalised the training as much as possible. However, there is just no substitute for regular coding, even as an experienced trained coder and even if you are not receiving regular feedback. In the practice phase of training, I recommend some coding a minimum of 2-3 times a week.

Although the workshop itself is 3 days, it is highly recommended that you factor in time for starting the practice phase as soon as possible after the workshop, and certainly within 2-3 weeks of the training, so that the learning is still fresh.

13. I’m starting my project soon. How quickly can I complete training?

There is no lower limit on how quickly you go through the training and complete the reliability assessment. We strongly encourage trainees to start independent coding practice as soon as possible while the training is fresh in ones mind. Due to the nature of providing individualised and regular feedback as part of the training and assessment phases, these back-and-fourths will take time. Completion of training within 4-9 months is realistic, but it is permitted that you take up to 12 months.

We do not recommend that trainees spend more than 4 hours coding in one ‘sitting’, as our experience shows that tiredness leads to inaccuracies for all coders.

14. Is it worthwhile to attend the 3-day workshop without taking on the assessments?

The workshop is designed to give an excellent grounding in the areas of caregiver-infant interaction that are covered in the MACI. It is not designed as a course in caregiver-infant interaction, and therefore does not cover other important areas of interaction or discuss the importance of positive interaction generally – a much longer course would be needed for that. It assumes that the participant appreciates the importance of positive interaction for healthy infant development and has some theoretical and research knowledge in this area. Therefore, if you are new to this area of research, then I strongly recommend you do some reading of studies in developmental psychology and parent-child interaction and caregiver sensitivity before attending the workshop.

The workshop is heavily focused on developing practical coding skills, and on preparing the participant for independent coding practice and the reliability assessment. However, through learning how to measure interaction, the trainee will learn a lot more about behavioural interaction and caregiver sensitivity. A certificate of attendance is provided on completing the workshop.

15. Do I have to collect any data (i.e. have access to caregivers and babies) as part of training?

No. However, if you wish to submit a DVD recording for assessment of administration (not coding), then you will need access to a caregiver-infant dyad to video record.

16. I can only make it to 2.5 days of the workshop. Will that be okay?

There is a lot to cover during precious face-to-face learning, so it is expected that the participant attends the full 3 days of the workshop. This should be factored in when booking return travel. The exception is leaving up to an hour earlier for a return flight. Please discuss with us.

17. Is it possible to train at another time to fit the needs of my project, or elsewhere?

If you wish to be added onto our mailing list for future trainings or require bespoke training for your research group, please contact Ming Wai Wan: m.w.wan@manchester.ac.uk

18. Can I go straight onto the reliability assessment after completing the training?

As individual and independent practice in coding is necessarily limited in the small-group workshop, the practice phase is essential for providing experience of coding a range of interactions, even if you have trained in other measures of caregiver-infant interaction before.

19. What will happen if I don’t complete MACI training and the assessments within 12 months?

To be a fully trained MACI coder, the trainee must complete and pass the reliability assessment within 12 months of the initial workshop. If the trainee is not at the stage of the reliability assessment by 12 months, then they will need to complete the training afresh and pay a new fee.

20. Why is the administration practice and assessment not an essential part of training?

Not all trainees / coders will be involved in MACI ‘administration’, especially since coding must be done blind to study participant information. However, included in the fee of the training is the opportunity to submit one DVD of a recording of your parent-infant interaction, if you wish to do so. You will receive feedback designed to help you improve your recordings and thus improve coding sensitivity. This is often completed before the reliability assessment but can be submitted at any time during the 12 months following the initial workshop.