44 thieves Flashcards
(12 cards)
who were the ppts?
44 (5-17yrs)
- 27 average iq
- 15 higher iq
- 2 lower iq
control group of 44 similar age, sex, emotionally disturbed but DIDN’T STEAL
what was the procedure?
1) each child was given mental tests to assess intelligence
2) psychologist also noted emotional attitude
3) social worker interviewed child’s mother and recorded preliminary details
4) psychologist and social worker reported to bowlby
5) bowlby interviewed the child and mother
6) 2 hour examination, then team reviewed school and other reports discussing their conclusions
7) most of the children met with the psychiatrist on a weekly basis for 6 months or more
8) mothers talked about their problems with a social worker
what were the findings?
most of the thieves were either AFFECTIONLESS or HYPERTHYMIC (constant overactivity)
most of the thieves were a grade 4 of stealing then grade 3, then 2 and then 1
what were the conclusions?
- factors that inhibit the development of the ability to form relationships affect the likelihood of offending
- this supports the assumptions that early childhood experiences affect later behaviours
what is the confidentiality issue?
the ppts were not given confidentiality
- bowlby’s report named the boys used in the studied with their first name and initial of last name
- this makes it easier to identify the ppts
- initials or numbers should’ve been used
what is the consent issue?
bowlby’s ppts were children between 5-17 yrs who were attending a guidance clinic and were not informed of the research taking place
- in 1944, the ethical guidelines were not very strict so it would be common for the children to be informed that their data is being used
how can this study be applied?
this emphasises the importance of establishing a bond between the primary caregiver and the child
- parents are entitled to time off work and both can share the time off between them.
- the change in maternity leave marks a shift from the traditional view that the mother should stay at home
what are the financial implications of childcare?
childcare has significant financial implications
- in 2019, the family and childcare trust reported that it costs £252 per week for a place in fulltime nursery
- to encourage families to return to work, the UK gov introduced a scheme that allows parents to claim tax relief and without this it may not be viable for parents to return to work as the childcare costs would outweigh the money earned.
what is a weakness of the methodology?
the case studies were largely based on recollections of the parents
- but these may not be accurate as it relies on memories which could become distorted over time or be subject to social desirability bias
what is a strength of the methodology?
it was case study rich which means that qualitative data was gained
- vast details allows a great insight to the problems that may have contributed towards the juvenile delinquency
- this increases external validity
what is a weakness of the ppts?
it lacks population validity
- both of the ppts (including control) were emotionally disturbed which means the findings cannot be generalised to all juveniles
what is a weakness of the procedure?
a cause-effect relationship cannot be established
- bowlby didn’t manipulate variables within his research as he used non-experimental methods to collect his data
- therefore a causal relationship cannot be determined which threatens the internal validity
