adoption studies Flashcards
What is the primary purpose of adoption studies?
To understand the influence of genetics and environment on behavior and traits.
True or False: Adoption studies can help disentangle the effects of nature and nurture.
True
Fill in the blank: Adoption studies typically compare _______ children with their biological and adoptive families.
adopted
What is a key advantage of adoption studies over twin studies?
They provide insight into the effects of environment independently from genetics.
Multiple Choice: Which of the following is a common finding in adoption studies? A) Genetics has no role in personality B) Adopted children show more similarities to their biological parents than adoptive parents C) Adopted children show no differences from non-adopted children
B) Adopted children show more similarities to their biological parents than adoptive parents
What is the term for the degree to which traits are shared among family members?
Heritability
What is the difference between ‘genetic predisposition’ and ‘environmental influence’ in the context of adoption studies?
Genetic predisposition refers to the inherited traits, while environmental influence refers to external factors that affect development.
Multiple Choice: Adoption studies often include which of the following groups? A) Biological siblings B) Adoptive siblings C) Both A and B
C) Both A and B
Fill in the blank: The _______ effect is often observed in adopted children who resemble their biological parents in certain traits.
genetic
What is the main ethical consideration in conducting adoption studies?
Ensuring the privacy and confidentiality of the participants involved.
True or False: Adoption studies have been pivotal in understanding the heritability of mental disorders.
True
What is the term for the phenomenon where adopted children may have traits similar to their biological parents despite being raised in a different environment?
Concordance
Multiple Choice: Which of the following traits has been commonly studied in adoption research? A) Height B) Personality C) Both A and B
C) Both A and B
What is the significance of studying adoptees from different backgrounds?
It helps to assess the impact of varying environmental factors on development.
Fill in the blank: Adoption studies often use _______ to measure the heritability of traits.
statistical models
In adoption studies, what does a high correlation between adopted children and their biological parents suggest?
A strong genetic influence on the trait being studied.
True or False: The results from adoption studies are always conclusive.
False
What are ‘closed adoptions’ and how do they differ from ‘open adoptions’?
Closed adoptions do not allow contact between biological and adoptive families, while open adoptions permit some level of communication.
Multiple Choice: Which factor is often controlled for in adoption studies? A) Socioeconomic status B) Geographic location C) Both A and B
C) Both A and B
What role do longitudinal studies play in adoption research?
They track changes over time in adopted individuals and their families.
Fill in the blank: Adoption studies contribute to the understanding of _______ traits and conditions.
complex
What is the ‘nature vs. nurture’ debate?
A discussion on the relative contributions of genetics (nature) and environment (nurture) to human behavior and development.
True or False: Adoption studies can identify specific genes responsible for certain traits.
False
What is the importance of sample size in adoption studies?
A larger sample size increases the reliability and validity of the study’s findings.
