Evaluate the study by Cassibba et al. (2013). (8)

Question 1

The sample was made up of data collected from a total of 2885 Italian child and adult participants

Answer 1

The findings were in respect of attachment in the Italian population so could be considered as ethnocentric and therefore may not be generalisable to other cultures.

Question 2

A wide range of data was collected including unpublished studies such as doctoral dissertations and conference papers.

Answer 2

The inclusion of unpublished studies which may have had inconclusive findings improves the representativeness of the results of attachment research as it reduces publication bias.

Question 3

The study was a meta-analysis of previous research, using 50 adult attachment studies and 17 infant attachment studies.

Answer 3

The meta-analysis used data from previous attachment studies and may lack validity as it is difficult to compare studies where interview methods, observations and researchers are different.

Question 4

Cassibba et al. (2013) concluded that whilst secure attachments were most common across both American and Italian cultures there was a higher percentage of avoidant attachments types in the Italian sample.

Answer 4

Cassibba et al. (2013) has furthered our understanding of cross- cultural attachment as different types such as avoidant attachments are valued, despite American research suggesting it is not desirable.