Issues and Debates - Gender (PAPER 2, 3)

Question 1

What is Beta Bias?

Answer 1

Refers to theories that ignore or minimise sex differences - often occurs when women are not part of a research project but the results are generalised to everyone

Question 2

What is Alpha Bias?

Answer 2

Refers to theories that exaggerate the differences between males and females - likely to devalue females in relation to male counterparts

Question 3

What is androcentricism?

Answer 3

Refers to when our understanding of “normal” behaviour is drawn from all males and then behaviour variants (women) are seen as inferior or abnormal

Question 4

What negative impacts can gender bias have on psychological research? (AO3)

Answer 4

• Androcentrism leads to real world issues
• Institutional sexism (few women in high up research jobs)
• Double standard of male and female behaviour

Question 5

What are Worrel’s 3 criteria for reducing gender bias?

Answer 5

• Women should be studied in meaningful real life context
• Diversity between women should be studied rather than between men and women
• Greater emphasis should be placed on qualitative rather than quantitative

Question 6

How have Dambrin and Lambert been seen to reflect on their previous research in the context of gender bias?

Answer 6

They appreciated how they, as men, may have had a skewed view on women in top accounting positions