methodology and procedures

• a strength of the research is that, as it was a case study, rich qualitative data was gained
• qualitative data - explain


  the in-depth, detailed data of these case histories allows a greater insight into the problems that may have contributed to juvenile delinquency.
• qualitative data - example


  in the final report, there were 56 pages and 25 of them were discussing the case histories of the 44 thieves.
• qualitative data - link


  this increases the ecological validity of this research
• a weakness of the research's methodology is that the case studies were largely based on the recollections of the parents
• recollections - example


  the parents were asked, during the interviews, to discuss childhood experiences that happened many years before
• recollections - explain


  the retrospective recollections may not be accurate as it relies on memories which could be distorted over time or could be subject to social desirability bias
• recollections - link


  if the recollections are inaccurate, then this would threaten the internal validity of the research, producing biased results
• a weakness of the procedures is the failure to provide any causal findings
• causal findings - example

  Bowlby didn't manipulate variables within his research as he used non-experimental methods (case studies and interviews) to collect his data
• causal findings - explain


  therefore, a cause-and-effect relationship between prolonged separation and juvenile delinquency cannot be conclusively claimed
• causal findings - link


  this threatens the internal validity of the study as other factors could've contributed towards the emotional disturbance
• a weakness of the sample is that it lacks in population validity
• population validity - example

  both the 44 delinquents and the 44 children in the control group were emotionally disturbed.

  in addition, the sample is heavily gender biased in favour of boys.
• population validity - explain


  the findings are only applicable to children with psychological and emotional issues, which is problematic as not all juvenile delinquents are emotionally disturbed.
• population validity - link


  this threatens the internal validity of the research, as the results cannot be generalised beyond the sample.