Comparisons of behavior transactions between conduct-disordered children and their mothers in the clinic and at home

The effects of various degrees of structure during clinic observations and the location of the observation (home or clinic) on the behaviors of mothers and children were examined. Forty families with conduct-problem children between the ages of 3 and 8 years participated. Correlations indicated little relationship between behavior in structured and in unstructured clinic conditions. There was also a lack of correlation between the structured clinic and the home observations. However, there were high correlations between mothers' and children's behaviors in the unstructured clinic observation and the home observations. ANOVA further indicated that there were significant differences between the actual rates of behaviors observed in the home and clinic locations. Results are discussed in relation to the potential of structured clinic observations to provide more relevant and efficient information about mothers and conduct-problem children.