Question

Several studies suggest that breast-fed babies become more intelligent children than formula-fed babies. One such study (Mortensen, Michaelsen, Sanders, & Reinisch, 2002) involved a sample of over 3,000 women and men born in Copenhagen, Denmark, between October 1959 and December 1961. The samples were divided into five categories based on duration of breast-feeding, as assessed by physician interview with mothers at a one-year examination. The child’s intelligence was assessed using the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) at a mean age of 27.2 years. The results showed that duration of breast-feeding was associated with significantly higher scores on the verbal, performance, and full scale WAIS IAs. This difference was observed even after the researchers adjusted for differences in the social class and maternal education of the two groups. (This adjustment allowed the researchers to rule out any preexisting differences in the groups that might have independently contributed to IQ differences in their children.) The authors acknowledged that other differences between the groups, such as the children’s genetic potential or their parents’ caregiving skills or motivation to nurture, could explain the results. However, they believe that human milk contains various hormones and other factors that enhance brain growth and maturation.

1. State the research hypothesis in your own words and Identify variables a. Independent b. dependent variables

2. define all important concepts and terms as they are used in this study.

3. What evidence do the researchers offer as a test of their hypothesis? Is this evidence empirical (observable)? Is it valid?

4. What explanation do the researchers offer for their findings? Does this explanation make sense based on the evidence?

5. Given the results of this study, why can’t the researchers draw a causal connection between type of food and later intelligence?

6. What might be an alternative explanation for the results of this study?

7. What could the researchers do in order to make a causal connection between the dependent and independent variables?

8. Are there any practical implications for this research?

Answer 1

Q.1 State the research hypothesis in your own words and Identify variables a. Independent b. dependent variables?

Ans:       Research study was basically centralized at a relationship of IQ level of an adult to that of the duration of breast feedings he or she was undergone during early developmental phase i.e. as a newborn baby. It was concluded from several studies that breastfeeding type and duration is directly related to the intelligence level of human being and it is independent of the sex of newborn babies. However, hypothesis hereby considered that human milk contains various hormones and other factors which are associated with brain development and maturity of human being hence it contributes more towards improved IQ of breast fed babies than the formula fed babies. To evaluate this hypothesis certain sample population was assessed using the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) for verbal, perceptual, processing and working skills.

• Variables related to hypothesis testing can be identified as independent and dependent variables of breast feeding.

1. Independent variables: sex of infant, maternal intelligence, marital status, mothers height, mothers weight gain during pregnancy, complications in pregnancy, number of pregnancies etc.
2. Dependent variables: duration of breastfeeding, parental IQ , parent education, social status, mother child physical and psychological contact, mothers age,

Q.2 Define important terms used in the study?

Ans:

A. Breastfed babies: these are the infants or new born babies who got fed with breast milk (lactation) from mother after their birth for a certain period of time.

B. Formula Fed babies: these are the new born babies who have fed with formulated nutritions artificially prepared in nutritional labs instead of breast feeding.

C. Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS): David Wechsler an American psychologist developed one test in 1949 based on several factors to measure the intelligence of human being and scaled the IQ level based on the score obtained. Test basically evaluates four sections verbal ability, perceptual reasoning skill, working memory and processing speed of the person.

Q. 3 What evidence do the researchers offer as a test of their hypothesis? Is this evidence empirical (observable)? Is it valid?

Ans:       Researcher offered verbal skills, performance, social class and maternal education as evidence for the hypothesis testing because these evidences are easy to observe for professionally trained psychologists and also valid for hypothesis testing as most of the times intelligence can be judged with the educational background of the person and social circle around him.

Q.4 What explanation do the researchers offer for their findings? Does this explanation make sense based on the evidence?

Ans:       The researcher found that children’s genetic potential or their parents’ caregiving skills. Motivation to nurture explains the results and they believe that human milk contains various hormones and other factors that enhance brain growth and maturation. This explanation provided is appreciated as it is proved several times in various findings that the naturally occurring mothers milk is highly rich in nutrients and hormones in the mother milk provides immunity power to infants for development and growth.