Cultural Bias Flashcards
Cultural Bias
Cross Cultural Studies
What is it?
Enables researcher to see whether things are culturally determined or actually different
- Used to see whether cultural practices affect behaviour
Cultural Bias
Cross Cultural Studies
Advantages
- Consider whether behaviour is innate
- If behaviour is the same in all cultures is part of genetic makeup
**Buss’ Research - looked at relationships in 36 countries and found the same mate preference
Men = Youthful + good looks
Women = resources/ambitious/industriou
Cultural Bias
Cross Cultural Studies
Disadvantages
- Observer Bias
- Language
- Generalizations
- Imposed Etic
- Top Down Process
- Cultural Practices
- Scientific Research
- Participants May Not Behavior Naturally
Cultural Bias
Cross Cultural Studies
Disadvantages
1. Observer Bias
- Observer’s expectation alter what they see
- Investigator effects
- Demand characteristics - participants work out true pursue of experiment and act accordingly
Cultural Bias
Cross Cultural Studies
Disadvantages
2. Language
- Misunderstand and misinterpret the language + draw false conclusions
- May not pick up on sarcasm or humor
- *Buss’ Research - used 3 bilingual speakers
1. translated the original questionnaire
2. another translated the participants’ responses
3. Third settled disputes
Cultural Bias
Cross Cultural Studies
Disadvantages
3. Generalizations
- Difference within a culture may be as significant as those between cultures
- Very small sample size - potentially biased? unrepresentative?
Cultural Bias
Cross Cultural Studies
Disadvantages
4. Imposed Etic
Methods developed in one culture may have a different meaning in another culture
**Koldberg
Cultural Bias
Cross Cultural Studies
Disadvantages
5. Top Down Process
- Use experiences + expectations
- Perception is top down much of what is seen is incomplete
- Impose own meaning in order to interpret data
- Expectation of observer
Cultural Bias
Cross Cultural Studies
Disadvantages
6. Cultural Practices
researcher may fail to understand practices - misinterpret participants’ understanding
Cultural Bias
Cross Cultural Studies
Disadvantages
7. Scientific Research
Many cultures respond positively
- Trust in whole research process cannot be taken for granted - psychological research may be rare if practiced at all
Cultural Bias
Cross Cultural Studies
Disadvantages
8.Participants May Not Behavior Naturally
Be aware of themselves being observed
**Mead studying puberty in Soma - **Freeman Mead only saw what she wanted to see + didn’t establish sufficient trust - only lady hadn’t been honest about her sexual experiences
Difference or Bias
Cultural Differences
Some differences
**Myers + Diener who is happy - westernised
Cultural Bias
Cross Cultural Studies
Disadvantages
8.Participants May Not Behavior Naturally
Be aware of themselves being observed
**Mead studying puberty in Soma - **Freeman Mead only saw what she wanted to see + didn’t establish sufficient trust - only lady hadn’t been honest about her sexual experiences
Difference or Bias
Cultural Differences
Some differences
**Myers + Diener who is happy - westernised
