Essay On Formula-Fed Babies

The research proposed suggest that breast-fed babies are more intelligent than formula-fed babies. The independent variable is if a child was breast-fed or not. The dependent variable is the child’s IQ based on the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS). Other important concepts to be understood is that this was a study and not an experiment, so the data could be skewed because it is based on the mothers self-reports of how much the child was breast-fed at the one-year examination. Sample of children were divided into 5 categories based on the duration of breast-feeding. Researchers adjusted the data for differences in maternal education and social class, to rule out preexisting differences that could have contributed to IQ differences.
The researchers provide evidence of their hypothesis that breast-fed babies are more intelligent with the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale.
They assessed the children’s intelligence using this scale which is consistent measurement for every child. The children with the duration of breast-feeding were associated with higher scores on the verbal, performance, and full scale WAIS IA. This evidence is observable, you can compare each child’s score. This evidence is valid because the WAIS is a consistent test that is able to compare scores evenly. Also, the researchers adjusted for differences that could affect the child’s scores such as maternal education and social class, allowing the researchers to rule out differences based on preexisting differences. This adjustment provided a more accurate result. The researchers explanation for the findings of higher scores associated with the breast-fed babies, is that human milk contains various hormones and other factors that enhance brain growth and maturation. The researchers also acknowledge the fact that differences between the groups could be from the children's genetic potential or the parent’s caregiving skills or motivation to nurture. I believe that this explanation of breast milk containing important hormones for enhancing brain growth and development, makes complete sense based on the evidence that children who were breast-fed score better the IQ
test. The reason why researchers can not draw connections between types of food and later intelligence is because there are too many other factors that could come into play with a child’s intelligence. Some factors that could play a role in child's intelligence is genetic potential, the environment the child was raised in, or parenting skills. This was a study not an experiment! The only way to conclusively know if there is a connection with food and later intelligence is to run an experiment. An alternative way to explain the results of this study is that breast-feeding helps in the aiding of brain development and intelligence. Breast-feeding a child does not mean that the child will be more intelligent than if the child was formula-fed. This is just one of the many factors that aids in the increase of a child’s intelligence. In order for researchers to make a casual connection between the dependent and independent variables, they could run a longitudinal study following the breast-fed and formula-fed babies for a number of years after they ran the IQ test. Some practical implication that can be gained from this research is that breast milk does have some hormones and other factors that enhance brain growth and maturation and can aid with a child’s intelligence. Also, genetic potential, parenting skills, motivation to nurture and environmental factors can contribute to this greater intelligence and better scores on IQ test.