Rutter et al Flashcards
1
Q
what is the aim of the study?
A
To assess whether loving and nurturing care could overturn the effects of privation that children had suffered in Romanian orphanages
2
Q
what was the procedure of the study?
A
- A l;ongtiduinal study, incorporating a quasi experiment. three groups were studies based on age of adoption
condition 1: children adopted before the age of 6 months
condition 2: children adopted between 6 months and 2 years
condition 3: children adopted after 2 years - 111 Romanian orphans were initially assessed for height, head circumference and cognitive functioning on arrival to Britain. all children were then assessed again at age 4. A control group of 52 British adopted children were also assessed (to ascertain whether the negative effects were due to separation from carers or the institutionalisation conditions in the orphanages)
3
Q
what are the findings of the study?
A
- around 50% of Romanian orphans were retarded in cognitive functioning at an initial assessment and most were underweight. the control group did not show this
- at 4 years old the orphans showed great improvements in physical and cognitive development with the orphans adopted before 6 months doing as well as british adopted children
4
Q
what are the conclusions of the study?
A
- the negative effects of institutionalisation can be overcome by sensitive, nurturing care
- as the British adopted children did not show development outcomes it can be seen that separation from carers on its own can not cause negative effects
5
Q
what is the evaluation of the study?
A
- children have only been assessed up to age 4 so subsequent follow ups will be required to test the long-term effects of institutionalisation
- only some of the children received detailed clinical investigations so the results cant be generalised
- because the children were not studied in the Romanian orphanages it is not possible to state which aspects of privation were most influential
