gender bias

Question 1

what is gender bias

Answer 1

• a distortion or imbalance of views concerning gender (based on pre-existing ideas)

Question 2

what is androcentrism

Answer 2

• seeing things from a male perspective, male behaviour as the norm

Question 3

what is alpha bias

Answer 3

• tendency to exaggerate differences between men and women

Question 4

what is beta bias

Answer 4

• tendency to minimise or ignore differences between men and women

Question 5

examples of beta bias

Answer 5

• milgram (obediance)
• asch (conformity)
  -zimbardo (conformity)
• seyle (stress response)

Question 6

advantages of beta bias

Answer 6

• idea that there are no differences between men and women fits with modern society gender equality and the fight against gender discrimination

Question 7

disadvantages of beta bias

Answer 7

• failure to acknowledge gender differences may lead to women missing out on appropriate support
• misrepresentation of female behaviour

Question 8

advantages of beta bias

Answer 8

• acknowledging gender differences may lead to appropriate support for males and females

Question 9

disadvantages of alpha bias

Answer 9

• perpetuates negative gender stereotypes

Question 10

evidence of gender bias in research - institutional sexism

Answer 10

• research agenda follows male concerns and female concerns may be marginalised or ignored

Question 11

evidence of gender bias in research - formulation of research questions

Answer 11

• often reflects current gender stereotypes

Question 12

evidence of gender bias in research - research design

Answer 12

• experimental approach is ‘masculine’ based on logical and rationality

Question 13

evidence of gender bias in research - selection of participants

Answer 13

• research has typically used white, male undergraduate students
• researchers use male pps for lab based studies and female pps for interview based studies

Question 14

evidence of gender bias in research - use of standardised procedures

Answer 14

• could create artificial difference or mark real differences

Question 15

evidence of gender bias in research - interpretation and use of results

Answer 15

• findings based on one sex are applied to both and may be used to perpetuate discrimination

Question 16

evidence of gender bias in research - publication of research

Answer 16

• journals tend to publish only those that have significant findings
• research that finds significant gender differences is more likely to be published

Question 17

evidence of gender bias in research - research approaches

Answer 17

• nomothetic approach is more prone to beta bias whereas idiographic approach is more prone to alpha bias

Question 18

dealing with gender bias - feminist perspective

Answer 18

• re-examining ‘facts’ about gender
• view women as normal humans not deficient men
• skepticism towards biological determinism
• research agendas focusing on women’s concerns
• a psychology for women rather than a psychology of women