Issues and Debates- Gender Bias Flashcards
What is alpha bias?
Where differences between males and females are exaggerated
Why is alpha bias sometimes used?
To undervalue one of the sexes
How is alpha bias justified?
Differences are attributed to biology
What is beta bias?
Where differences between males and females are ignored or minimised
When can beta bias happen?
When studies just include participants of one gender but the conclusions are applied to the whole population
What is androcentrism?
Where males are viewed as being at the centre of a culture
How should research design be carefully controlled to avoid gender bias?
- Psychologists need to be careful that they’re not unconsciously including any gender stereotypes when writing an aim
- Participants should be selected in a non-biased way
- Researchers should make sure male and female participants are spoken to in the same manner
- Researchers need to be aware that gender stereotypes can affect expectations about the outcomes of their research
How can gender bias be created?
Publication bias
Which studies are more likely to be published?
Studies that produced positive findings (differences between males and females) are more likely to be published than studies that find no difference
How does Freud’s theory show gender bias?
It described male behaviour as the norm
How does Asch’s theory show gender bias?
He used a male-only sample so results couldn’t be generalised to women
How does Bem’s theory show gender bias?
It shows beta bias in ignoring that fact that all masculine and feminine traits are valued differently in society
