Michael Rutter Case Study 1998

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Michael Rutter and the case study of Romanian orphans in 1998 Aim: Rutter et al wanted to find if it was separation from the mother or the severe circumstances in Romania that was responsible for any negative effects Procedure: 111 Romanian children were assessed on a variety of measures of physical and intellectual ability when they arrived to Britain. Most of them had been in the orphanages from shortly after they were born. The children’s IQ was tested when they came in the UK and the average score for the Romanian orphans was 63.For those over 6 months the average was 45.Physical development was also poor,51% of them being in the bottom of 3% of the population for weight. They were also shorter in height than was normal for their age and had smaller head circumferences. The Romanian children were tested again at the age of 4 and compared to a control group of 52 British-adopted children who were 4 as well, who didn’t show any of the negative effects suffered by the Romanians. Findings: at 4 years old, the two groups of adopted children didn’t show any significant differences in either intellectual or physical development. The average IQ of the Romanian children increased from 63 to 107.For those adopted after 6 months, it increased from 45 to 90.The older adoptees tended to do less well in terms of physical development too. Conclusion: the negative results shown by the Romanian children could be overcome if adequate care is given to them Intervention should take place before they are 6 months old Separation from mother alone is not enough to cause negative outcomes as the British children were separated but didn’t have problems with their
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