strengths and weaknesses Flashcards
(4 cards)
Schaffers stages of attachment S/W
W - the asocial stage may contain social feelings and thoughts but as they aren’t observable Schaffer cannot be sure the infants aren’t making connections internally
W - in collectivist cultures people are more focused on the needs of the group rather than individuals. lacks external validity as some cultures may be more prone to multiple attachment figures rather than one primary figure
S - results from Schaffer and Emmersons study were internally valid as the same children were studied and observed throughout the 18 months (no participant variables)
S - study was carried out in the babies own home with the mothers observing their behaviour and reporting back. the behaviour was likely to be natural (external validity, no researcher bias on the baby)
role of the father S/W
W - researchers who study role of the father ask different questions (fathers as secondary vs primary attachments)
W - Freeman et al (male children are more likely to prefer their father than female children would) undermines distinct role of fathers
S - Grossman’s study supports the distinct role of fathers as secondary attachment figures
RWA - the research can be used as advice for parents who may feel pressured to do something as they feel the mother “must” be the primary attachment. external validity as it can reduce parental anxiety
Lorenz’s study S/W
W - it is hard to generalise his findings to humans (low external validity). mammals may be able to form attachments at any time, differently to imprinting
S - research found that chickens imprinted on rubber gloves (used to feed them) and would try to mate with them as adults
W - the same research above found that with experience the chickens eventually learned to mate with other chickens
S - Lorenz had a control group which allowed him to establish cause and effect of imprinting
Harlows monkeys S/W
W - the two mothers differed in other ways e.g. the heads were different and so act as a confounding variable (lack internal validity)
W - the study contained many ethical issues
S - however the ethical issues may be disregarded as a result of cost-benefit analysis (cost to the monkeys is less than the impact of the findings for humans)
RWA - the research has helped social workers understand risk factors in child neglect and abuse and so can prevent it
RWA - shown the importance of care of captive monkeys and so understand the importance of attachment figures to baby monkeys
RWA - helped psychologists to understand human mother-infant attachments (external validity as the findings can be applied to a species beyond monkeys)
