Two theoretical-methodological distinct perspectives are compared in order to study mother's conceptualization of the process of mother-infant development of communication. Based on dynamic systems perspective and relying on longitudinal microanalysis of case studies observations, Lyra and collaborators propose the EEA model for studying this process of development. This model integrates a sequence of three periods of development of this process, conceived as developmental patterns of organization: establishment, extension and abbreviation (EEA). Using a "multiple sorting procedure", we investigated mothers' conceptualization of these three periods of development. We examined 48 mothers, from two socioeconomic levels. The results support the EEA model confirming: the distinction between face-to-face and the exchanges mediated by the object (MOB); the differentiation among the three periods of communication development (EEA) in both type of exchanges; and, an order distribution (axial) of these three periods, except for the specific analysis of the MOB type of exchanges.
communication development; mother-infant; mother's conceptualization; EEA model; facet theory
