AO3

• A limitation is that findings could be socially sensitive. Based on findings of the studies, there are implications that suggest those who have been institutionalised may have poorer intellectual development. This may hinder their prospects in later life. For example, discrimination in terms of job opportunities, if this information is known. This is a limitation because the risks of the research may outweigh the benefits of what we have learnt, which may deem this work as unethical.
• A limitation of Rutter et al.'s research is its lack of generalisability, reducing external validity. The study focused on Romanian orphans who experienced extreme deprivation, including malnutrition and multiple caregivers, before being adopted into UK families. This extreme form of deprivation may not reflect the experiences of children in less severe situations, such as those in neglectful homes. Additionally, the socio-economic and cultural context of Romania during the study may have influenced the results, making it difficult to generalise to other populations. Therefore, while the findings offer valuable insights, they may not apply to all children, limiting the external validity.
• A strength of Rutter et al.'s study is that it had fewer extraneous variables, enhancing the internal validity. Unlike previous studies on institutionalisation, the children in Rutter's study did not experience prior trauma, such as the loss of a parent, which could have confounded the results. Instead, the children were removed from severe deprivation in Romanian orphanages and placed directly into adoptive families in the UK. This allowed for a clearer examination of the effects of institutionalisation without the added complexity of prior emotional trauma or loss. By reducing these extraneous variables, Rutter was able to more confidently attribute any developmental changes to the institutional care itself rather than other external factors, strengthening the reliability of the study's findings.
• A strength of Rutter et al.'s study is that it was longitudinal, tracking the same children over several years. This allowed the researchers to assess both short-term and long-term effects of early deprivation on development. By following the children from childhood to adolescence, Rutter observed that those adopted before six months showed significant recovery in both emotional and intellectual development. This design improves the validity of the study, as it provides a clearer understanding of how early deprivation impacts development over time.