research methods: adoption studies

Question 1

what does it suggest if concordance rate is higher in adoptive relatives than biological?

Answer 1

environmental cause

Question 2

why are adoption studies carried out?

Answer 2

environment of adopted children is not the same as that with biological families yet they have genes in common
- if there are similarities with bio family - due to genetics

Question 3

strength of adoption studies (validity)

Answer 3

• longitudinal
• allow us to see change over time

Question 4

weakness of adoption studies (gen)

Answer 4

• adopting families may show similar characteristics
• environment of adopted family is unique

Question 5

weakness of adoption studies (validity)

Answer 5

• children are placed in adoptive family similar to their own
• may be similar to bio environment eg ethnicity, class, race
• nature and nurture not separated

Question 6

strength of adoption studies (application)

Answer 6

• show whether parenting can correct bad genes
• likelihood of improvement through adoption

Question 7

weakness of adoption studies (gen)

Answer 7

• unique sample
• may have had traumatic experiences