Robertson and Robertson (1968) A Separation Study

Question 1

Method

Answer 1

• A naturalistic observation, several children who experienced short separations from their carers were observed and filmed,
• For example, a boy named John aged around 18 months stayed in a residential nursery for nine days while his mother had another baby.

Question 2

Results

Answer 2

• For the first day or two, John protested at being separated from his mother,
• He then started to try get attention from the nurses, but they were too busy with the other children, and so he gave up,
• After another few days, he began to show signs of detachment - he was more active and confident than he had been previously at the nursery,
• When his mother came to collect him, he was reluctant to show affection.

Question 3

Conclusion

Answer 3

• Short-term separation had very bad effects on John, including possible permanent damage to his attachment to his mother,

Question 4

Evaluation

Answer 4

• John’s reaction might not have been due to separation, could have been due to his new environment or the fact that he was getting less attention than he was used to,
• Very little control of variables, would be difficult to replicate each individual situation,
• Natural setting; has ecological validity, less reliable.