Attachment: Maternal deprivation AO3

Question 1

METHODOLOGICAL ISSUES WITH BOWLBY’S STUDY
What were the problems in the data that was collected?

Answer 1

The study used an interview to collect retrospective data (i.e. the children and their parents had to think back many years)
which can produce inaccuracies

Question 2

WEAKNESS
How could Bowlby’s work have researcher bias in his findings?

Answer 2

There is researcher bias
- because he conducted all aspects himself
- he diagnosed children as affectionless psychopaths
- there might have been EXPECTANCY EFFECTS

Question 3

STRENGTHS
What are the positive real-life applications of this research?

Answer 3

Bowlby’s theory stressed the importance of emotional bond
- Led to change in policies such as hospital visiting and foster care.

Question 4

What are 1 strength and 2 limitations of Bowlby’s maternal deprivation study?

Answer 4

1 strength:
- It has positive real-life applications
2 limitations:
- Researcher bias
- Methodological issues: retrospective data