Romanian orphan study evaluation

Question 1

Name an evaluation point for this study

Answer 1

Individual differences
Some orphans in the study coped better than others
Bowlby argued that this was due to the fact that some children had better treatment than others
perhaps they smiled more or etc
This means that it is not possible to conclude that that institutionalisation inevitably leads to an inability form an attachment.

Question 2

Name another evaluation point for the study

Answer 2

real-word application (social change)
Rutter and Burke’s study combined with Bowlby and Robertson’s findings have shown to have improved our understanding of early adoption
Before, mothers were asked to nurse their children before sending them off for adoption which meant that the sensitive period would have likely passed making it harder for the child to develop a secure attachment
Now, this has changed. Children are usually adopted within a week that they are born in without their biological mother nursing
Singer et al 1985 said that adopted children and their parents could form securely attached relationships just as well as non adopted children and their parents

Question 3

Name another evaluation point

Answer 3

A strength of the studies reviewed is that they follow the lives of the children over many years.
Although they take longer in terms of planning, preparation and the length of the study, the benefits are extremely useful
We now know that institutionalisation does not have long lasting effects and can disappear over time with high quality care
longitudinal studies are useful and can show that the effects are reversible

Question 4

Name another evaluation point

Answer 4

One limitation is that in this experiment there was a confounding variable. The Romanian orphans experienced much more than just emotional deprivation. The physical conditions were appalling and this impacted their health. The lack of cognitive stimulation would also affect their development. This means that the effects of institutionalisation goes beyond emotional deprivation.

Question 5

Name a final evaluation point

Answer 5

The effects of institutionalisation may be reversible. One of the findings from the Romanian study was that at the last assessment age at 11, a lower number of children had disinhibited attachment therefore, ex-institutionalised children may simply need more time than normal to learn how to cope with relationships. This is further supported by Le Mare and Audet’s findings that physical underdevelopment had improved by age 11 thus suggesting that development does continue in these children. This is a criticism of the research which suggests that the effects of institutionalisation are reversible