Gender bias

Question 1

How are men and women different anatomically?

Answer 1

Men tend to have more muscle mass, more bone mass, and lower % of body fat

Question 2

How are men and women different psychologically?

Answer 2

Different cognitive development, personality, and emotion

Question 3

What does universality mean?

Answer 3

All research is assumed to apply equally to both genders after rigorous testing across both genders

Question 4

What is the definition of gender?

Answer 4

The psychological sense of being male or female, including social norms

Question 5

What is the definition of sex?

Answer 5

Refers to the biological aspects of being male and female

Question 6

What does androcentrism mean?

Answer 6

Male-centred, takes male behaviour as normal and female behaviour as abnormal when it is different

Question 7

What is alpha bias?

Answer 7

Exaggeration of the differences between genders

Question 8

What is beta bias? Give an example

Answer 8

Downplaying the differences between the genders
For example, fight or flight response was presumed to be universal, but Lee and Harley (2012) found that women have ‘tend and befriend’ reaction

Question 9

Solutions?

Answer 9

Due to understanding of gender bias, solutions have been put forward.
Cornwell et al (2013) noted that females are better at learning as they are more attentive and organised
This reduces/challenges gender stereotypes

Question 10

Criteria?

Answer 10

Has allowed Worrel (1992) to form criteria for non gender-biased research:
Alternative methods of inquiry to explore personal lives of women
Considering women in natural settings in which they function
Collaborating with research ppts to explore relevant variables
Studying diverse samples