1. What type of research design is used in this study (e.g.,cross-sectional, longitudinal,

experimental, correlational, or naturalistic observation)? Isthis

design appropriate?

2. What explanation do the researchers offer for their findings?Does this explanation

make sense based on the evidence?

3. Given the results of this study, why can’t the researchersdraw a causal connection

between behavior disorders and temperament?

4. Can you think of an alternative explanation for the resultsof this study?

Critical Thinking Activity: Early Temperament Style andLater Adjustment Problems

Now that you have read and reviewed Chapter 7, take yourlearning a step further

by testing your critical thinking skills on this scientificreasoning exercise.

A study by Caspi and others (1995)* revealed that temperamentalstyle in early

childhood might be linked to adjustment problems duringadolescence. The study

involved a cohort of 1,037 children born between April 1, 1972,and March 31,

1973, in Dunedin, New Zealand.

At ages 3, 5, 7, and 9, the behavior of each child was rated interms of 22

aspects of temperament, including emotional stability,restlessness, self-reliance,

persistence, negativism, passivity, shyness, self-confidence,emotional flatness,

and 13 other dimensions. To assess behavior problems in thesample, the

researchers relied on outcome data from teachers and parents whorated the children

at ages 9, 11, 13, and 15 on two widely used behavior problemchecklists.

These checklists included subscales measuringanxiety/withdrawal, which represents

feelings of inferiority and failure; attention problems, whichreflect difficulty

in concentration skills; conduct disorder, which reflectsaggressiveness and

alienation; and socialized delinquency, which reflectsnorm-violating tendencies.

For both boys and girls, lack of control at ages 3 and 5 showeda significant

positive correlation wth teacher and parent reports ofantisocial behavior and

conduct disorder at ages 9 and 11. In addition, boys and girlscharacterized as

lacking in control in early childhood were less likely to berated in adolescence as

mature and confident.

The authors suggest several possible explanations for theseintriguing results.

One is that certain temperamental characteristics in youngchildren are actually

early, “subclinical” manifestations of more extreme behaviordisorders. Whatever

the correct explanation, the results of this extensive studysuggest that early temperament

may have remarkably specific predictive validity for thedevelopment of

behavior problems during adolescence.