This paper presents a rationale for observing black mothers during semi-structured play activities with their toddlers. It appraises the strengths and weaknesses of such situational assessments of mother-infant dyads, arguing that in addition to observational data the collection of introspective interview data from mothers is essential. Interview data provide additional evidence for the validity of observed interactive behaviors. An attempt is made to illustrate, by reporting examples from field study data, how observational and interview data cannot be substituted or interchanged; rather, the two sets of data are complementary and should be combined to provide a truly "ecologically valid" assessment of black families and children. (Author/RH)