Institutionalisation Flashcards
Identify one piece of research into institutionalisation
-Rutter and Songua-Barke Romanian orphan study
Outline the aim and method of the Romanian orphan study.
Aim: To investigate the long term effects of institutionalisation on Romanian and British adoptees in the the early 1990’s.
Method: 165 children from Romanian orphanages which made up the experimental group sample were investigated. 111 of those were adopted by the age of 2, the rest of them which were 54 were adopted by the age of 4. They were compared to 52 British children who were adopted by the age of six months which made up they sample of the control group. The social, emotional, cognitive and physical development of each child was measured during intervals when they turned a certain age which were 4,6,11 and 15.
Outline the findings of the Romanian orphan study.
- They found Romanian adoptees displayed deficits in their SECP development compared to the British adoptees as they showed no deficits. The Romanian adoptees had low IQ, weighed less and on average were physically smaller.
- However they found that Romanian adoptees who were adopted by the age of sixth months would catch up to the British adoptees SECP development.
- Those who were adopted after the age of sixth months developed disinhibited attachment disorder which caused them to not be able to form or maintain any relationships in the future.
Outline the conclusion of the Romanian orphan study.
Infants SECP development is hindered from institutionalisation especially if they do not receive emotional adequate care by the age of 2.
AO3 for Institutionalisation
- generalisability
- Other variables and not institutionalisation
- longitudinal
- Practical application (orphanages)
Outline AO3 paragraph for generalisability
P: A criticism of of the Romanian orphan study is the issue with generalisability.
E: The Romanian orphans came from really dire conditions, as shown through the overcrowding in the orphanages and lack of food they received.
E: This is not representative of orphanages in developed countries as laws are put in place to prevent orphans from suffering from a lack of care.
L: The lack of generalisability makes us unable to conclude that all orphans in the population SECP development will suffer from institutionalisation.
Outline AO3 paragraph for Practical application for institutionalisation.
P: Rutter and Songua-Barke’s research into institutionalisation is praised for developing postive real life application.
E: Their research has highlighted the negative effects of institutionalisation on infants especially if their not adopted by the age 2 which is shown through the development of disinhibited attachment disorder and having a below average IQ.
E: This has led to social workers encouraging mothers to put their children up for adoption as soon as one week from birth because historically mothers who were planning to put their children up for adoption would care for them for a month before doing so.
L: This is important as it makes it more likely for orphans to get adopted faster therefore preventing the chances of them suffering from the negative effects of institutionalisation.
Outline AO3 paragraph for other factors for institutionalisation
P: A criticism of the research is that other variables could have affected the results and the only factor it takes into consideration is deprivation between an infant and a caregiver.
E: They research showed us SECP development is hindered as a result of deprivation and were physically smaller if not adopted by the age of 2 for the rest of their lives.
E: The Romanian orphans Did not receive much mental stimulation and were malnourished. This is argued to have been a result of Romania in the early 1990’s being a developing country therefore the orphanages could not receive much funds to care for the children.
L: This makes it hard to conclude that the dependent variable which is the SECP development of the adoptees is the cause and effect of institutionalisation as poverty could have caused the results to occur.
Outline AO3 paragraph for longitudinal study for institutionalisation.
P: The study on Romanian orphans is praised for being a longitudinal study.
E: The study took course over an 11 year period as the adoptees SECP development was measured at regular age intervals (4, 6, 11 and 15)
E: This shows us the study not only portrays the short term effects on SECP development of institutionalisation but also the long term effects.
L: This increases the validity of the findings and also supports the claim that institutionalisation makes an adoptee form disinhibited attachment disorder
