A03

• One :) of Romanian orphge studies is application to improve conditions for children growing up outside their family home.

  Langton (2006)- studying Romanian orphans has enhanced psychologists' understanding of early institutional care effects, -> to improvements in care system conditions.

  This research has prompted changes like assigning fewer caregivers per child + prioritising foster care or adoption over institutional care.

  Therefore, such measures can provide children in institutional care with better opportunities for normal attachment development and prevent disinhibited attachment.
• Point: Another strength of the Romanian studies is the lack of confounding variables.

  Evidence: Unlike previous orphan studies, children in Romanian orphanages were often placed there due to financial constraints.

  Explain: This means they are less likely to be influenced by other negative early experiences, such as neglect, physical abuse and bereavement.

  Link: Thus, this reinforces the internal validity of the conclusions drawn from studying Romanian orphans.
• :( , studying children from Romanian orphanages might have introduced different confounding variables.

  E: The poor quality of care in these institutions, lacking intellectual stimulation and comfort, could have contributed to observed harmful effects.

  E: This suggests that negative outcomes seen in Romanian orphan studies might be attributed more to poor institutional care quality rather than institutional care itself.

  L: Therefore, this implies that caution is needed in attributing observed effects solely to institutional care without considering other variables.
• Point: One limitation of the Romanian orphanage studies is the current lack of data on adult development.

  Evidence: The ERA Study's latest data only covers participants up to their early- to mid-20s, leaving questions about long-term effects unanswered.

  Explain: This means we do not yet understand outcomes like lifetime mental health prevalence and maintaining successful adult and parental relationships.

  Link: Hence, it will take time before a complete understanding of the long-term effects on Romanian orphans' adult lives is established