Child study evaluations Flashcards
Van Leeuwen Evaluation (Validity, Reliability, Nature, Nurture, Individual/Situational)
Validity:
Standardised IQ tests, of which there are child and adult versions to test different types of intelligence are widely used and unlike older versions of IQ tests (e.g. Yerkes) are a valid measurement of intelligence.
Reliability:
These tests are also reliable, with test-retest reliability of 0.88 for the child version and 0.91 for the adult version. This means if the test was taken again a similar score would be achieved; such consistency is important.
Nature:
These finding support the genetic explanation of intelligence and therefore the nature side of the debate. 67% of intelligence was found to be due to genetics and parental influence is due to genes.
Nurture:
However, although the nature argument is stronger, 33% of intelligence is due to environmental factors and those who are biologically more likely to have a low IQ are more influenced by nurture.
Individual/situational explanations:
There is little evidence from this research that intelligent parents will provide a more intellectually stimulating environment than less intelligent parents. However, more intelligent children may seek out such environments, which positively influences intelligence. Therefore, a combination of individual and situational explanations impact intelligence.
Barkley-Levenson Evaluation (Usefulness of research, Psychology as a science, Nature/Nurture)
Usefulness of research:
- Findings from this study suggest that developmental differences in the brains of adolescents means they are more likely to take risks when there is an advantage.
- It is extremely useful for educators to be aware of this predisposition to risk taking and therefore develop curriculum to highlight the dangers and disadvantages of such behaviours. This is particularly important in young drivers.
- Furthermore, discussions with young people can be effective. This can be done by downplaying the advantages of risk-taking behaviour; this is most likely to work if peers are also involved.
Psychology as a science:
- This piece of research provides evidence to support this debate. Conditions were highly controlled and standardised in a laboratory, which are easy to replicate.
- The experimental method was used with different conditions and the DV was measured using an fMRI, which is very scientific and provides us with objective results that are falsifiable.
- Deduction was used as a hypothesis was tested and useful causal conclusions were then made.
Nature/nurture:
- This study clearly supports the nature side of the debate in that
biological features cause us to behave in certain ways, i.e. a hyperactive VS causes risk taking behaviour. - However, those on the nurture side of the argument would argue that nurture, i.e. education, can reduce such behaviour.
Gibson and Walk evaluation (Psychology as a science, Validity, Nature/Nurture)
Psychology as a Science:
- This study is scientific in nature, conducted in a standardised laboratory environment with experimental conditions and causal conclusions can be made.
- Specific controls were also put into place to reduce extraneous variables
Pattern effect was controlled by having a grey surface on both sides, which led to rats showing no preference, while reflection from the glass (which could distort the depth) was controlled by under-lighting. - As a result rats preferred the shallow side.
Validity:
- The conclusions from this study have been made from a small sample of human infants and animals. It is questionable as to whether these findings can be generalised to the target population.
- Gibson and Walk however argue that there are enough results for us to make conclusions about human perceptual development.
Nature/nurture:
- This research suggests that perceptual development will occur at a reasonably fixed age and is innate - this is for evolutionary reasons and supports the
nature side of the debate. - However, the role of nurture should not be ignored, particularly in humans. Environmental interactions and the use of play strategies and toys are essential in order for normal perceptual development to occur.
Wood Evaluation (Usefulness of research, Reliability, Nature/Nurture)
Usefulness of research:
- Wood et al. suggest that the use of scaffolding can be beneficial in helping young children to learn. Such strategies can be useful at any age, as can other
techniques such as memory improvement techniques such as mnemonics.
Reliability:
- This study used a standardised scoring system to measure observed behaviour. Categorisation of behaviours was high in inter-rater reliability, with 94% agreement on 594 events between the two observers being achieved. Therefore, we can be confident that the recording of behaviour is reliable.
Nature/nurture:
- Although we are born as natural problem solvers and our cognitive abilities will develop naturally as we get older, the role of an expert or a tutor is
important in assisting in this process. - As Wood et al. found, as we get older we are able to accept and act upon advice from tutors. Therefore, as we become older we cognitively advance (through nature) and the role of nurture becomes more important.
Ainsworth and Bell Evaluation (Reliability and Validity, Sampling Bias and Ethnocentrism, Usefulness of research)
Reliability and Validity:
- This study was a controlled observation with a standardised procedure, with all participants being exposed to the 8 episodes. This meant extraneous
variables were minimised and internal validity was high. Observed behaviours were agreed upon by observers – the study had high levels of inter-rater reliability.
Sampling Bias and Ethnocentrism:
- The participants in the study were white, middle class Americans. It is wrong to apply the findings from this study to all attachments across different cultures, as different cultures have different norms and values.
- The findings may not be replicated in a Collectivist culture, where a child may have more than one attachment figure. Furthermore, all caregivers in this study were mothers; therefore, the findings cannot be applied to attachments where the father is the main attachment figure.
Usefulness of research:
- Ainsworth and Bell’s research has been useful for parents and childcare practitioners. Separation from an attachment figure can be very distressing
for infants; therefore, substitute care must be responsive and sensitive in order to minimise the effect of separation.
Johnson and Young Evaluation (Socially sensitive research, Usefulness of research, Nature/nurture)
Socially sensitive research:
- TV adverts that are aimed at boys are deliberately different in relation to voice overs, language used and product names, to adverts that are aimed at girls.
- Young viewers are likely to learn from stereotypical behaviour they see and
imitate these roles. This can potentially have a negative impact in terms of gender equality and perpetuate a view that males and females should fulfil certain roles in society.
Usefulness of research:
- Despite (potentially negative) implications from this research, Johnson and Young suggest that there are a number of reasons why such advertising
occurs, which is useful for those who work in commercials: by creating clearly separate toys for boys and girls, children relate to the products and therefore more are sold. - Commercials that use gender stereotyping have been successful in the past and therefore continue to be used. Additionally, gender stereotyping is also successful in adult adverts.
Nature/nurture:
- A further interesting debate that comes from this study is whether the
formation of gender roles are due to nature or are learnt through experiences and being exposed to gender stereotypes in places such as TV adverts. Do these adverts appeal to boys and girls because that is their natural preference?
