Manchester Assessment of Caregiver-Infant Interaction
Training
23-25 April 2014
------Dr Ming Wai Wan
Lecturer in Developmental Psychology
Venue: The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
The Measure
The Manchester Assessment of Caregiver-Infant Interaction (MACI) is a method of systematically
evaluating qualitative or global aspects of behavioural interaction between an adult primary
caregiver and infant through rating their unstructured play from videotape. Seven areas of
caregiver-infant interaction are measured, and these rating scales are based within a normative
developmental model, designed to capture a wide variance of interactions, both healthy and atrisk infants.
The measure was developed to fulfil the need to evaluate global features of interaction for
research purposes and which (1) is relatively brief and quick to rate in key areas defining quality
of interaction; (2) is valid over a long period of infancy (4-15 months), thus lending itself to
longitudinal measurement; (3) rests on directly observable behaviours and based on empirical
evidence (rather than theoretical assumptions) in developmental psychology.
This measure is suitable for research in a wide range of projects. The training also provides a
thorough grounding for understanding caregiver-infant interactive dynamics in a behavioural
sense. The measure is not designed for use as a clinical assessment. Using the MACI, parentinfant interaction has been found to be correlated with brain measures in infants (ERP) and
parents (fMRI).
A comprehensive training package
We are delighted to offer a complete training package to be completed within 1 year of the initial
workshop, after which the trainee will be able take videotaped interactions and rate them reliably.
The training involves active participation in a 3-day intensive workshop in Manchester followed by
substantial practice and reliability assessments to produce consistent, statistically reliable ratings
as needed for high quality research. The package consists of:
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Intensive 3-day workshop in Manchester
Two sets of practice clips with personalised feedback
Extra set of practice clips with detailed feedback (at no extra charge), if needed
A two-part coding reliability assessment, with personalised feedback
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Play interaction recording/administration assessment (optional)
All course materials, including MACI coding manual, forms and other materials
Who is the training aimed at?
The training is suitable for researchers who wish to study global or macro-analytic aspects of
caregiver-infant interaction from videotaped clips in a systematic way that has been validated in
normative and at-risk samples. The training assumes that the participant has a basic,
undergraduate level of understanding of parenting and infant development, and assumes no prior
experience in observing caregiver-infant interactions in a research context. The training requires
a substantial time commitment (see below).
What are the components of the training?
a) The workshop
This small group workshop will include:
 Background to the MACI including presentation of yet-to-be published data
 Detailed discussion of each area of caregiver-infant interaction with exemplars
 Practice coding exercises including small-group and individual coding
 Training in set-up and administration
 Comprehensive grounding for independent coding exercises
 Certificate of attendance on completion of 3 days
To be a fully trained MACI coder, the trainee must complete and pass the reliability assessment
within 12 months of the initial workshop.
b) Practice exercises
Following the 3-day workshop, it is strongly recommended that the trainee begins their practice
phase as soon as possible and definitely within 2 weeks of the workshop.
Coding: In this intense period of practice, you will independently rate a total of 16 clips using the
MACI, with individualised feedback on each clip to learn from, and opportunity to re-code if
needed with secondary rounds of feedback. If extra practice is felt to be needed, there is one
extra set of clips on which we would provide individual feedback, included in the cost of the
training.
Administration: This is not an essential part of the training (which focuses on coding); however, it
is recommended for those who will be administering the MACI. Participants have the opportunity
to submit one DVD of their own recording of a caregiver-infant interaction from which they will
receive personalised feedback. This can be completed before the reliability assessment.
c) Coding reliability assessment
When the level of agreement is sufficiently high in the practice exercises, it is recommended you
commence the reliability assessment within 3 weeks. This involves independently rating 14 clips
using the MACI, with mid-assessment personalised feedback to work from. A MACI reliable coder
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certificate is issued on passing this assessment which allows the coder to use the MACI for
research purposes.
How long will it take to complete training?
Learning to code caregiver-infant interactions and achieving inter-rater reliability requires an
intense period of training and regular practice and supervision. This is reflected in the design of
the training package with specially selected clips to provide a range of experience and practice,
with some time flexibility, and personalised feedback incorporated with the practice exercises and
assessments. You should therefore bear in mind before embarking on this training that, as with all
specialist trainings of this kind, this programme carries a substantial time commitment in the
region of 70-95 hours if you are to pass the first time, and possibly more if more work is required.
How fast you complete the training will depend largely on how soon you start the different phases
of training, how regularly you practice coding, how conscientiously clips are re-reviewed in
parallel with feedback, and your own accuracy in rating clips.
We place no lower limit on how quickly you can pass the reliability assessment. However, it is
recommended that trainees do not spend more than 4 hours coding in one ‘sitting’ as our
experience shows that tiredness leads to inaccuracies even for experienced coders. On the other
hand, from our experience, it is imperative that trainees start independent coding practice as
soon as possible while the training is fresh in ones mind, and recommended time scales are
provided above. Completion of training within 3 to 8 months is realistic, but you can take up to 12
months.
Cost
Registration is now open and accepted on a first-come first-served basis:
http://estore.manchester.ac.uk/browse/product.asp?compid=1&modid=2&catid=306
Extra early bird (until 01/01/2014) - £800
Early bird (from 02/01/2014 to 17/02/2014) - £950
Standard (from 18/02/2014) - £1050
Please enquire about discounts for research teams of 3 or more.
The fee includes the following:
 3-day workshop, including slides, training materials, coding manual, and forms
 Lunch, refreshments and evening reception
 All post-workshop practice materials, and assessment materials
 Up to 5 rounds of personalised feedback on coding practice
 Feedback in MACI coding reliability and administration
Not included in the fee are any further practice materials/feedbacks that may be required beyond
that stated above, any additional administration assessments, or any additional training if the
participant does not pass reliability within 12 months of the initial workshop.
How to register
Registration is on a first come, first served basis. To register and pay in one process, simply log
onto: http://estore.manchester.ac.uk/browse/product.asp?compid=1&modid=2&catid=306
If you have any questions as to the suitability of this training for your purposes, further information
can be found on our website, including a list of FAQ’s: http://www.bbmh.manchester.ac.uk/maci
General enquiries about the training or MACI to Ami Brook: ami.brooks@manchester.ac.uk. If
you have specific queries, please contact Ming Wai Wan: m.w.wan@manchester.ac.uk.
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