RUTTER

RUTTER

1. PROCEDURE

   • Studied 100 Romanian orphans, and they were assessed at ages 4, 6 and 11.
     • Compared to a control group: UK born children who were adopted before the age of 4 months.
       • Semi-structured interviews were carried out with the child and parent. Also observation to see if the child makes any inapropriate physical contact with adults.
         • IV= age at adoption (<6 months, 6-24 months, 2-4 years) DV= Inhibited/disinhibited attachment

2. FINIDINGS

   • Romanian orphans adopted by British families before 6 months showed 'normal' emotional development.
     • However many of the orphans adopted after the age of 6 months showed problems with peers and disinhibited attachment.
       • DISINHIBITED ATTACHMENT= a behavioural pattern sown by children brought up in institutions: Lack of fear of strangers, lack of looking back to parent in times of stress, attention seeking from ALL adults, inapropriate physical contact to adults

3. EVALUATION

   • Research is made rich and detailed as there was a range of methods used to assess the childrens behaviour. E.g. semi-structured interviews and obervation to see if child makes inapropriate physical contact
   • Longitudinal study therefore it suffers attrition making the study unrepresentative and the end sample will be bias.