issues and debates: gender bias ao3

Question 1

strength - solution to gender bias

Answer 1

P: by developing a greater understanding of gender bias psychologists have put forward a number of solutions
E: for example, some psychologists attempt to develop theories that emphasise the importance or value of women
E: cornwell et al 2013 noted that females are better at learning as they are more attentive and organised, thus emphasising both the value and the positive attributes of women
L: as a result, this type of research helps to reduce or challenge gender stereotypes which is important in reducing gender bias

Question 2

limitation - avoiding beta bias

Answer 2

P: another important reason for avoiding beta bias, or minimising differences, is that it has consequences for women
E: on the positive side, equal treatment under the law has allowed women with greater access to educational and occupational opportunities
E: however hare-mustin and marecek point out that arguing for equality between men and women draws attention away from womens special needs and from differences in power between men and women. in a society where one group holds most of the power, seemingly neutral actions may end benefiting the group in power
L: for example equal parental leave ignores the biological demands of preg, childbirth and breastfeeding and the special needs of women thus disadvantaging women

Question 3

strength - allowed feminist psychologists to propose criteria

Answer 3

P; a strength of gender bias is that is has allowed feminist psychologists to propose ways in which gender bias can be avoided
E: worell and remer suggest criteria researchers can follow to avoid gender bias. women should be studied within meaningful real life contexts and genuinely participate in research instead of being objects of a study
E; also diversity in groups of women should be studied, rather than comparisons made between women and men. finally there should be a greater emphasis on collaborative research methods that collect qualitative data
L; this way of doing research may be preferable and less gender biased then labatory based research

Question 4

limitation - promotes sexism

Answer 4

P: one limitation of gender bias is that it promotes sexism in the research process
E: a lack of women at senior research level means female concerns may not be reflected in the research questions asked. male researchers are more likely to have work published
E: also female ppt in lab studies are in a inequitable relationship with a (usually male) researcher who has the power to label them as irrational and unable to complete complex tasks
L; this means that psychology may be guilty of supporting a form of sexism that creates bias in theory and research.