Romanian Orphan Studies - Rutter's Research

Question 1

How long was his study

Answer 1

1998-2011 - longitudinal study of 165 Romanian orphans adopted into British families

Question 2

Procedure

Answer 2

• children grouped into those adopted while under 6 months, 6 months-2 years, and older than 2 years
• each group assessed at 4,6,11,15

Question 3

Findings

Answer 3

• Age 6: children adopted after 6 months showed disinhibited attachment and overly friendly behavior to strange adults
• Age 11: over half children who showed disinhibited attachment at age 6 still showed it. Adopted after 6 months had significant delayed physical, emotional and intellectual development
• Adopted after 2 years IQ of 77, compared to 102 of adopted under 6 months
• Age 15: intellectual problems continued

Question 4

Conclusion

Answer 4

• adopted within first 6 months important as rate of recovery depends on age of adoption
• effects of privation severe and long-lasting but children adopted after 2 years recovered so critical period is more like a sensitive period

Question 5

AO3 Strength point

Answer 5

Longitudinal study

Question 6

AO3 Strength evidence

Answer 6

Many years so assess shirt and long term effects of institutionalisation and benefits from adoption

Question 7

AO3 Limitation point

Answer 7

Data is correlational and cause and effect can’t be established

Question 8

AO3 Limitation evidence

Answer 8

Appears to be a relationship between age of adoption and IQ but many other confounding variables (e.g. children with disabilities may not have been selected for study)