issues and debates - Y13 Flashcards
what does bias mean in term of psychological research?
the effects that the psychologists own background and values may have on a theory or outcome of a study, undermining the claim of psychological research.
what is cultural bias?
where psychological research and theories conducted in one culture are applied, perhaps inappropriately to another, reducing the extent to which theories can be said to be universal.
what is ethnocentricism?
the belief that one culture is inherently superior than others, This manifests as behaviours not matching western norms being seen as deviant.
what is cultural relativism?
an imposed ethic view where research which is developed in one culture may be applied inappropriately to another culture.
what does the term ‘imposed ethic mean’?
assuming that one way of doing things can be applied to everything else. in psychology this could mean suggesting behaviours from one culture are the same in all cultures.
what does the term ‘emic approach’ mean?
where psychologists study cultures within, and looking at which behaviours are specific to that culture.
Takano and Osaka (1999)
analysing 15 studies comparing an individualist culture and a collectivist culture
-found no evidence of difference in behaviour in 14 of them, suggesting that cultural differences may not be as big a factor in research as previously thought.
what does universality mean?
where any underlying characteristic of human being that is capable of being applied to all, despite differences of upbringing experience.
support for universal behaviours?
facial expressions and interactional synchrony in attachment, suggesting that not all researching findings are culturally relative.
demand characteristics?
demand characteristics may be more of a problem when undertaking cross-cultural research, as the participants may be less familiar with the scientific method. Therefore, the findings of such studies are less likely to be valid due to cultural bias.
what is gender bias?
the differential treatment or representation of men and women based on stereotypes rather than real differences
what is an alpha bias?
where the difference between males and females are exaggerated or emphasised. For example, mens and women may respond differently in situations involving aggression.
what does the evolutionary theory suggest about men and women?
males are more likely to be physically aggressive in order yo word off threats. females are more likely to be non-physically aggressive, and this is less risky to their survival. therefore meaning that males and females who do not act in these ways may be going against their nature somehow.
what is a beta bias?
where differences between males and females are minimised or ignored, a theory or findings from research are thought to apply in the exactly the same way to both genders. for example, Asch found relatively high rates of conformity in his line-length, but when females have been tested in similar ways, even higher rates if conformity have been found.
what is adrocentrism?
a male-centred standpoint, this means that research is conducted mostly by.males, using male participants, meaning that the male experience is set as the ‘normal’ standard of behaviour, and that if females show different behaviours they may be judged as abnormal.
gender bias creates?
creates and reinforces negative stereotypes, often around female behaviour, and could be used to justify unfair treatment of the sexes.
what is free will?
recognise cause and effect in behaviour and the influence of factors such as the environment, bur argues that we ourselves direct out behaviour through our will so that we make choices and our behaviour is voluntary.
what is determinism?
the belief that cause and effect rule the day. our behaviour is determined by our previous experience, our genetic makeup and the environment, and we dint really choose out actions.
what is hard determinism?
the theory that human behaviour and actions are wholly determined by internal or external forces, and therefore humans do not have genuine free will.
what is soft determinism?
the theory that there are constraints on out behaviour but within these limitations we are free to make some choices
