During the twentieth century, child adoption was reimagined in scientific terms, as a social experiment and human laboratory that could produce knowledge as well as help children. Researchers were persuaded that adoption could answer basic scientific questions about development, nature and nurture, and family norms. Professionals and parents were persuaded that scientific research would improve family-making by minimizing risks and maximizing safety. Adoption has been the subject of four major types of empirical research: field studies, outcome studies, nature-nurture studies, and psychopathology studies. Chronological lists of studies can be found by clicking on the preceding links. Descriptions of particular studies, and excerpts from them, can be found by using the links in the table below.

Further reading about Adoption Studies and Adoption Science

• Catherine S. Amatruda and Joseph V. Baldwin, “Current Adoption Practices,” 1951

• David Fanshel, Far from the Reservation, 1972

• Benson Jaffee and David Fanshel, How They Fared in Adoption, 1970

• Ruth W. Lawton and J. Prentice Murphy, “A Study of Results of a Child-Placing Society,” 1915

• Sophie van Senden Theis, How Foster Children Turn Out, 1924

• Margaret A. Valk, “Adjustment of Korean-American Children in Their American Adoptive Homes,” 1957

• Helen Witmer et al, Independent Adoptions: A Follow-up Study, 1963

• Harry F. Harlow, Monkey Love Experiments

• Marshall D. Schechter, “Observations on Adopted Children,” 1960