Romanian Orphan Studies AO3

Question 1

✅ How does the use of standardised tests improve the reliability of Rutter’s ERA study?

Answer 1

Standardised cognitive and behavioural assessments were used, which have been replicated in other studies, such as Morison and Elwood (2005) with Canadian-adopted Romanian orphans. This supports the idea that the effects of institutionalisation are consistent across different settings.,

Question 2

✅ How has Rutter’s ERA study influenced adoption and foster care policies?

Answer 2

The study emphasizes the importance of early interventions in cases of child neglect and institutional care. It provides evidence that early placement in nurturing environments is crucial for healthy development, informing policy decisions in adoption and foster care systems.

Question 3

❌ Why might the effects of institutionalisation in Rutter’s ERA study not apply to other orphaned children?

Answer 3

The Romanian orphans in Rutter’s study had not experienced trauma or loss before being institutionalised. This is unlike many other orphans who may have lost parents. As a result, the findings may not be generalisable to other children who have experienced significant emotional trauma.

Question 4

❌ Why is the generalisability of Rutter’s ERA study limited?

Answer 4

Only some children in Rutter’s ERA study received detailed clinical investigations. This means findings may not be representative of all the children, especially those with limited data. Individual differences, such as resilience, could have affected outcomes, making it difficult to generalise results to all Romanian orphans.