AO1

• Meta-Analysis


  A meta-analysis is a statistical technique that combines findings from a variety of studies to look for patterns/trends. It allows data from previous studies to be viewed with more confidence and it can be generalised more than original research. However, it can be prone to publication bias.
• Van Ijzendoorn and Kroonenberg conducted a meta-analysis of 32 studies that replicated/were based on Ainsworth's Strange Situation. 18 of these studies were from the USA. In total, 1990 children were studied.
• Van Ijzendoorn and Kroonenberg: Findings

  To proportionately summarise, they used 1 study from Great Britain, 18 from the USA, 2 from Japan and 3 from West Germany. They found that all countries had a majority secure attachment; GB: 75%, USA: 64.8%, Japan: 67.7% and West Germany: 56.6%. Out of the two insecure attachments, avoidant was most common in GB: 22.2%, USA: 21.1% and West Germany: 35.3%. Whereas Japan had a majority resistant attachment type of 27.1%.
• Conducting meta-analyses that involve different cultures can be difficult because:

  • it is difficult to identify with another culture, such as identifying with a collectivist culture are someone from an individualistic culture.
  • it is difficult to understand a different language or dialect
  • techniques used to identify attachment, such as the strange situation, is imposed etic.