Adoption Study: Heston Et Al

Question 1

Evaluate the generalisability of adoption studies.

Answer 1

Sample: adopted children
May not be representative to other children. Separated from parents (Bowlby) claimed this would have a negative effect on the child.

Question 2

Evaluate the reliability of adoption studies.

Answer 2

Many extraneous variables as children are put up for adoption for different reasons so large sample sizes will average out anomalies.

Question 3

Evaluate the application of adoption studies.

Answer 3

Tells us whether god parenting can correct bad genes.

Question 4

Evaluate the validity of adoption studies.

Answer 4

Confounding variables:
Adoption agencies attempt to match biological families to those adopting them, making it harder to tell if upbringing is at work.

Question 5

Evaluate the ethics of adoption studies.

Answer 5

Children’s privacy and dignity is preserved. Fulfilling social responsibility.