Issues and Debates

Question 1

Alpha bias

Answer 1

Tendency to exaggerate differences

Question 2

Beta bias

Answer 2

Tendency to ignore/minimise differences

Question 3

Androcentrism

Answer 3

Focused around men

Neglect/exclusion of women

Question 4

Gender bias

Answer 4

Differential treatment or representation of men and women based on stereotypes rather then real differences

Question 5

Universality

Answer 5

Aim to develop theories that apply to all people, which may include real differences

Question 6

Cultural bias

Answer 6

Tendency to judge all people in terms of own cultural assumptions
Distorts judgement

Question 7

Cultural relativism

Answer 7

View that behaviour connote be judged properly unless viewed in context of culture from which it originates

Question 8

Ethnocentrism

Answer 8

See things from point of view of ourselves and evaluate others using the standards of own culture

Question 9

Determinism

Answer 9

Individuals behaviour controlled by either internal or external forces. Behaviour should be predictable

Question 10

Free will

Answer 10

Individuals have active role in controlling their behaviour

Question 11

Heredity

Answer 11

genetic inheritance

Question 12

Interactionist approach

Answer 12

Nature and nurture work together rather than in opposition

Question 13

Nature

Answer 13

Behaviour product of innate factors

Question 14

Nurture

Answer 14

Behaviour is product of environmental influences

Question 15

Nature-nurture debate

Answer 15

Whether an individuals personal development is due to genes or environmental influences

Question 16

Holism

Answer 16

Perceiving whole experience rather then individual features

Question 17

Reductionism

Answer 17

Approach that breaks complex phenomena into more simple components to better understand them

Question 18

Idiographic approach

Answer 18

focuses on individuals and emphasises uniqueness. Favours qualitative methods in research

Question 19

Nomothetic approach

Answer 19

Seeks to formulate general laws of behaviour based on study of groups and statistical techniques. Summarise difference between people through generalisations

Question 20

Socially sensitive research

Answer 20

Any research that may have direct social consequences for participants