Classic Study - Van IJzendoorn And Kroonenburg (1988)

Question 1

Aims

Answer 1

• to see if patterns of attachment are better understood is a large data set is examined
• to investigate cross cultural variation in the ratio of attachment styles A,B,C through meta analysis of Strange Situation Procedures
• to understand if attachment type is due to nature or nurture

Question 2

Sample

Answer 2

• 32 studies from 8 countries representing 1990 Strange Situation Procedures
• western cultures = UK, USA, SWEDEN, WEST GERMANY, NETHERLANDS
• non western = JAPAN, ISRAEL, CHINA
• excluded studies involving twins, children above the age of two, special needs and overlapping samples

Question 3

Procedure

Answer 3

Conducted a meta analysis to compare the findings of 32 studies which had used SSP to classify mother-infant attachment in terms of A,B,C (insecure avoidant, secure, insecure resistant)

Question 4

Results (7)

Answer 4

• Type B (secure) was modal attachment style
• European countries (individualistic) had fewer type C (resistant) and more type A (avoidant) than the average distribution of all the samples
• non western cultures (collectivist) apart from China, had a dominant insecure type C
• lowest secure attachment = China (50%)
• highest secure attachment = UK (75%)
• intracultural differences (within same country) was found significant in German, Japanese and US samples
• the intracultural variation was 1.5x more than the intercultural (between countries) variation

Question 5

Conclusions (3)

Answer 5

• the consistency of attachment types suggests there is universal characteristics that underpins child and caregiver interactions
• cross cultural similarity of type B modal = attachment is innate OR is a product of mass media and globalisation
• intracultural differences were not due to procedural differences as the same researches often obtained data within the same country.

Question 6

Generalisability - Strengths

Answer 6

• population validity = robust sample of 32 studies representing 1990 SSP cases - anomalies won’t skew data
• no culture bias as it represents 8 different nations (cross cultural) - generalisable

Question 7

Generalisability- Weaknesses

Answer 7

• poor population validity = oversimplifies cultures - may be sub cultures so not representative- only generalised to specific subcultures
• excluded children over 2 and special groups - not representative of all children - poor population validity - not generalisable
• the USA created and tested the SSP - reflects their cultures and societal norms - Japanese children taught to rarely part from mother but Germans taught to be independent- culture bias - not generalisable
• disproportionate number of studies taken from each country ( 1= UK, USA=18, Japan= 1)

Question 8

Reliability - strengths

Answer 8

• standardised procedure as SSP had 8 structures steps and behaviour was recorded every 15 secs using operationalised checklist and used by all studies (replicable)
• SSP was a covert observation using recordings and 2 way mirrors so inter-observer reliability

Question 9

Reliability - weakness

Answer 9

Etic approach so the same experiment won’t measure different cultures attachment styles accurately so not reliable

Question 10

Application

Answer 10

People in day care should shape their behaviour to the child’s expectations of how a parents should behave e.g. encouraging independence or dependence

Question 11

Validity - strengths

Answer 11

• lab experiment so controlled confounding variables
• covert observation so no demand characteristics

Question 12

Validity - weaknesses

Answer 12

• Van IJzendoorn and Kroonenberg were Dutch so etic approach as they investigated from perspective of a culture not of their own so culture bias therefore subjective
• no info on cultural background (rural vs urban area) so researched drew conclusions on cultural differences but were comparing countries so not valid

Question 13

Ethics strengths and weakness

Answer 13

• van IJzendoorn and Kroonenberg didn’t carry out SSP so ethics of studies of other nations doesn’t conflict with this meta analysis study
• some cultures end up appearing deficient as it assumes independence and self reliance should be fostered when collectivist societies wish to develop cooperation and dependence