Issues and Debates Flashcards
What is meant by the term Universality?
The assumption that research can be applied to everyone everywhere, regardless of time and culture.
What is meant by the term Bias?
A distortion in representation of a group/data etc.
What is meant by Gender Bias?
A distorted view of behaviours that may be typical and atypical for men and/or women.
What are the Three Forms of Gender Bias?
-Alpha Bias
-Beta Bias
-Androcentrism
What is Alpha Bias?
Research that exaggerates differences between men and women serving to reinforce gender stereotypes e.g. men are better drivers than women or women are better multitaskers than men.
Such theories assume that there are real and enduring differences between men and women and as a consequence will either heighten the value or devalue one gender in comparison to the other.
Alpha bias can come as a result of beta bias and androcentrism (Kohlberg).
Examples: Freud’s theory of psychosexual and moral development, Kohlberg’s theory of moral development, Darwin’s theory of sexual selection, Biological theories of sex differences.
What is Beta Bias?
Research that ignores, minimises or underestimates differences between men and women e.g. levels of conformity in men represents conformity in all people (Asch). Another example being the fight or flight response - early research was conducted exclusively on male animals as it was thought that female hormones fluctuate greatly.
Such theories assume that all people are the same and therefore it is reasonable to apply the same theories and methods with both men and women. The aim is to produce theories that can claim to have universality.
Examples: Stress - fight or flight response, Kohlberg’s cross-sectional baseline study of moral reasoning, Asch’s study of conformity, Milgram’s original study of obedience, Zimbardo’s Stanford prison experiment.
What is Androcentrism?
A gender bias that reflects a male centres view of the world - often to the neglect or exclusion of women. It is where male behaviour and masculine traits are judged to be the norm/acceptable/desirable and female behaviour/feminine traits are judged to be abnormal/less acceptable/less desirable.
Can there be Interaction between Androcentrism and Alpha Bias?
Yes, for example when theories take a male perspective, females may be compared to the male standard/norm and then devalued as a consequence.
Can there be Interaction between Androcentrism and Beta Bias?
Yes, for example , when researchers ignore or minimise the differences between men and women, they can:
-Mistakenly assume findings from studies of males apply equally to females.
-Ignores important parts of women’s experiences.
This can result in a male-centred perspective that fails to fairly represent female behaviour and experiences (androcentrism).
