AQS
Attachment Q-Sort (AQS)
The AQS is a method for assessing attachment in young children based on observing their behavior in a natural setting, most often at home. It relies on a trained observer sorting 90 behavioral descriptions, sometimes supplemented by a parent who knows the child well. The tool mainly aims to estimate attachment security from everyday behaviors such as proximity seeking, exploration, emotional regulation, and the way the child uses the attachment figure as a secure base.
- Number of questions
- 90 questions
- Estimated duration
- 120 minutes
- Language
- English
- Original name
- Attachment Q-Sort
- Target audience
- Young children
- Authors
- Everett Waters, Karen E. Deane (1985)
- Category
- Childhood
Scoring & interpretation
After an observation period that is usually extended, the 90 items are distributed in a forced sort into 9 categories, from the behaviors least characteristic of the child to the most characteristic. The main score is obtained by correlating the child's sort profile with a criterion profile representing secure attachment. A higher correlation indicates greater attachment security. Interpretation must take into account the observation context, the child's age, and the quality of the rater's training.
Available alternatives
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