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Studies on the role of the father - Coggle Diagram
Studies on the role of the father
Ross et al (1975) - study on fathers changing nappies
Aim
To investigate the impact of carrying out caretaking duties on parental attachment
Procedure
A correlational study, measuring number of nappies changed and strength of attachment
Results
A positive correlation was found between the number of nappies changed and the strength of the father/child attachment
Conclusion
The more time a father spends engaged in care giver activities, the stronger the attachment will be.
Evaluation
Strengths
Easy to replicate
Practical applications for parenting and forming an attachment.
Limitations
Lacks temporal validity - more fathers change nappies than they did in 1975 (role of fathers and attitudes have changed)
Correlations cannot show cause.
Caldera (2004) study on 60 fathers and mothers
Aim
To investigate the impact of carrying out caretaking duties on parental attachment
Procedure
60 fathers and mothers of 14-month old infants independently described their child using the 90-item AQS (Attachment Q-set) and completed questionnaires about their involvement in and attitudes towards child-rearing.
Results
When fathers were engaged in caretaking activities, they were much more likely to report a strong attachment bond with their child.
There was a high concordance rate (agreement) between the mother's and father's AQS responses.
Conclusions
The more time a father spends engaged in care giver activities, the stronger the attachment will be.
Evaluation
Strengths
Easy to replicate
Practical application for parenting and forming attachment
Limitations
Demand characteristics and social desirability in responses to questionnaire
Van Ijzendoorn and Kroonenberg (1988)
Aim
To investigate attachment styles in different cultures using Mary Ainsworth's Strange Situation
Procedure
A meta analysis of 32 cross-cultural studies of attachment
Results
Great Britain had the most secure with 75%
China had the least secure with 50%
West Germany had the most avoidant with 35%
Japan had the least avoidant with 5%
Israel had the most resistant with 29%
Sweden had the least resistant with 4%
Conclusion
Although secure attachment was the most common types, there are cultural variations which may be explained by child rearing styles rather than attachment types.
Therefore, the strange situation does appear to be culturally biased towards Western child rearing practices.
Evaluation
Strengths
Strange situation is a useful diagnostic tool
Limitations
Apart from USA, very small sample, so cannot generalise.
Variations within cultures greater than between cultures
Not suitable for studying cross-cultural variations as bases on Western ideals.