Final answer:
The study by Skeels and Dy demonstrated that mentally challenged babies cared for by mentally challenged women showed improved intellectual abilities, reinforcing the importance of social interactions in cognitive development.
Step-by-step explanation:
The study conducted by H.M. Skeels and H.B. Dy involved mentally challenged babies who were placed in an institutional setting and cared for by mentally challenged women. This research aimed to investigate the effects of social interaction on cognitive development. What the study found was that these babies showed significant improvement in their intellectual abilities. This outcome aligns with other research studies, like those conducted by researchers such as Harry Harlow, John Bowlby, and Mary Ainsworth, which highlight the critical role of social interaction and attachments in cognitive and psychological development. Harlow's experiments with monkeys conclusively demonstrated that emotional and social needs were as important, if not more so, than nourishment when it came to the mother-child bond and overall development. Further, the tragic case of a young girl named Danielle highlighted the severe consequences of social isolation and neglect on development, reinforcing the study's findings about the importance of socialization.