Cross-cultural research
The use of the cross-cultural research method, including the Strange Situation, in developmental psychology, including nature-nurture issues.
The use of meta-analysis using cross-cultural research to draw conclusions about the universality of attachment types.
Ainsworth’s Strange Situation (1969) has been used to assess attachment type in other cultures.
Generalisability relates to how well the findings from a study represent multiple cultures.
Sagi et al (1985) studied attachment in Israeli children raised on a kibbutz.
Van Ijzendoorn and Kroonenberg (1988) compared the results of 32 cross-cultural studies.
Ainsworth’s Strange Situation (1969) study was conducted in the USA and so the findings may not be generalisable to other cultures.
Ainsworth conducted The Strange Situation in more than one culture finding similar results which suggests generalisability.
Sagi et al’s (1985) study is not generalisable as other cultures do not have the same family structures.
Van Ijzendoorn and Kroonenberg (1988) did a meta-analysis across several cultures so the results can be generalised.
The strange situation procedure has been used cross-culturally. Explain one reason why cross-cultural research is carried out when studying children. (2) October 2017
Assess the generalisability of cross-cultural research into the development of children. (8) January 2017