Gender Bias

Question 1

Consequence (misleading assumptions) DW

Answer 1

P: Gender biased research can create misleading assumptions about female behaviour, fail to challenge negative stereotypes and validate discriminatory practices.
E: By using male behaviour as the “standard”, female behaviour such as pre-menstrual syndrome or postnatal depression could be seen as a abnormal
E: This means that psychological research may therefore provide way for a male dominated society to deny women opportunities within the work space or in wider society.
I: Therefore it may have damaging consequence which affect the lives and prospects of real women. For example women are twice as likely to be diagnosed with depression.

Question 2

Consequence (sexism) DW

Answer 2

P: Gender bias can lead to sexism within the research process in pyschology
E: There is a lack of women who are appointed at senior research levels
E: This means that male researchers are more likely to have their work published and studies which find evidence of of gender differences are more likely to appear. Because it’s mostly male researchers there is a lack of women expressing their concern.
I: Therefore this suggests that psychology may be guilty of supporting a form of institutional sexism that creates bias in theory and research.

Question 3

Solution (research criteria) DW

Answer 3

P: Feminist commentators have suggested a number of research criteria to ensure non-gender biased research investigations.
E: Worrell suggested a number of research criteria that are particularly important to ensure non-gender biased research investigations: eg) using alternative methods of inquiry to explore personal lives of women and considering women in the natural settings in which they function.
E: This helps to reduce investigator bias that may affect female participants behaviour producing more valid data and women are more representative.
I: Therefore this means that research will not be flawed and produces unbiased valid data as more women are being considered which means it can be generalised to both sexes.

Question 4

Solution (taking a feminist approach) DW

Answer 4

P: Another way to reduce gender bias is to take a feminist approach which attempts to restore the imbalance in both psychological theories and research.
E: Eagly claims that females are less effective leaders than males and that there needed to be development of training programmes to reduce the lack of female leaders in the world.
E: This demonstrates how recognising gender bias can improve individuals experience by suggesting a solution which will improve society as a whole.
I: This could therefore lead to a rise in female leading opportunities so that females feel more involved in society and can take on what was once patriarchal roles.