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Strength: Separation of Genetic and Environmental Factors
Mednick's study exposed individuals to a different environment from their biological relatives, making it easier to separate the influences of genetics and environment on criminal behaviour.
Strength: Large Sample Size and Supporting Research
Mednick's study involved a large sample, with data collected from 14,000 adopted males in Denmark (1924-1947), increasing the reliability of the findings. Additional studies, such as Crowe (1972) and Hutchings & Mednick (1975), also found evidence supporting a genetic link to criminality, reinforcing Mednick's conclusions.
Strength: Correlation Between Adopted Children and Biological Parents
Studies have found a correlation between adopted children's criminal behaviour and their biological parents, suggesting a genetic link to criminality.
Weakness: Ethical Issues and Consent
One of the major ethical concerns in Mednick's study is the approach to individuals involved, especially when contacting them long after their adoption. This could cause distress, particularly if they were unaware of their biological parents' criminal history or had no previous knowledge of their adoption. Additionally, children cannot provide direct consent to be studied. Adoption studies typically proceed with the presumptive consent of the adoptive parents and, where possible, the biological parents. Although children's anonymity is preserved, this raises ethical issues regarding privacy, dignity, and the right to know or not know their genetic background.
Weakness: Selective Placement of Adopted Children
Adopted children are often placed in families that resemble their biological family or are selected for specific reasons, which could impact the reliability of the study's findings.
Weakness: Influence of Birth Parents Before Adoption
The age at which adoption occurs may mean children have already been influenced by their biological parents before being placed in their adoptive homes.
Weakness: Lack of Information on Biological Parents
Information about the biological parents of adopted children isn't always available, which limits the understanding of the genetic influence on criminality.
Weakness: Limited Generalisability
Adoption studies use adopted children, which may not represent the general population of children. Many adopted children may have experienced trauma, affecting their behaviour and making results harder to generalise.
Weakness: Reliability Issues in Adoption Studies
Adoption studies are often opportunistic, using available samples at the time, which can affect reliability. Other factors, such as early experiences in orphanages, may influence children's behaviour and distort findings.
