Studies Of Cultura Variation A03

Question 1

Strength - large sample size

Answer 1

• For example, in the van Izendoorn meta-analysis there was a total of nearly 2000 babies and their primary attachment figures.
• Even studies like those of Simonella et al. and Jin et al. had large comparison groups from previous research, although their own samples were smaller.
• This overall sample size is a strength because large samples increase internal validity by reducing the impact of anomalous results caused by bad methodology or very unusual participants.

Question 2

Limitation - samples tend to be unrepresentative of culture

Answer 2

• The meta-analysis by van Izendoorn and Kroonenberg claimed to study cultural variation whereas, in fact, the comparisons were between countries not cultures.
• One sample might, for example over-represent people living in poverty, the stress of which might affect caregiving and hence patterns of attachment.
• An analysis by van Izendoorn and Sagi (2001) found that distributions of attachment type in Tokyo (an urban setting) were similar to the Western studies, whereas a more rural sample had an over-representation of insecure-resistant individuals.
• This means that comparisons between countries may have little meaning; the particular cultural characteristics of the sample need to be specified.

Question 3

Limitation - method of assessment is biased

Answer 3

• Cross cultural psychology includes the ideas of etic and emic. Etic means cultural universals whilst emic means cultural uniqueness.
• The Strange Situation was designed by an American researcher (Ainsworth) based on a British theory (Bowlby’s).
• There is a question over whether Anglo-American theories and assessments can be applied to other cultures.
• Trying to apply a theory or technique designed for one culture to another culture is known as imposed etic.
• An example of imposed etic may be the idea that a lack of separation anxiety and lack of pleasure on reunion indicate an insecure attachment in the Strange Situation.
• In Germany this behaviour might be seen more as independence than avoidance and hence not a sign of insecurity within that cultural context (Grossmann and Grossmann 1990).