Issues + Debates Flashcards
What is Gender Bias?
Gender bias is the tendency to treat or view one group in a different way from others. Research may offer a view that does not fit with the experience of men or women.
What is Alpha Bias?
Research that exaggerates or overestimates the differences between the sexes. They are often presented as fixed, real and enduring.
What is one example of Alpha Bias?
The socibiological theory of relationship formation.
It has been suggested that when it comes to reproduction it is in a males interests to try and impregnate as many females as possible, but in the females interests to ensure the survival of the offspring she produces.
Therefore it suggests that it is genetically determined for men to be sexually promiscuous, but females who engage in the same behaviour are going against their nature. Therefore this exaggerates the differences between the two sexes - Alpha bias
What is Beta bias?
When the differences between the two sexes are ignored or underestimated. It often occurs where females are not included in research - but it is assumed that the findings apply to them.
Give an example of Beta bias.
Fight or flight response
Early research used male animals (as females hormones fluctuated too much) and the research was assumed to apply universally in a threatening situation.
Taylor et al. suggest that instead females care for offspring and form defensive networks with other females. this is a tend and befriend response governed by the hormone oxytocin.
What is Androcentrism?
It is a consequence of beta bias. If our understanding of what is normal comes from all-male samples then any behaviour that deviates from this is considered abnormal - meaning that female behaviour can be misunderstood or pathologised.
For example many feminists object to the catogory of pre-menstural syndrome because it medicalises female emotions by explaining them in hormonal terms - but this is seen as a normal reaction for men
What are two limitations of Gender Bias?
May create misleading assumptions of women, as it would provide scientific justification for not hiring women (PMS). This is a serious problem as it may have damaging consequences for women.
Essentialist arguments suggest that gender difference is inevitable and fixed in nature. Walkerdine (1990) showed how 1930’s research found that intellectual activity shrivelled a woman’s ovaries. These are often politically motivated and viewed as ‘biological facts’. This could create a double-standard in how behaviour from males and females is viewed.
What are two strengths of Gender Bias?
Understanding leads to reflexivity. Has led to researchers embracing bias as part of the research process. One study on women in executive positions includes reflection upon how gender-related experiences influences understanding of events. Reflexivity is important and leads to a greater awareness of the role of personal bias.
Feminists suggest how it can be avoided. Worrell suggests that women should be studied in real life contexts, and genuinely participate in research-instead of being objects of research. Also it has been suggested that diversity within groups of women should be studied, rather than comparing them with men. Finally there should be greater emphasis on collaborative research that collects qualitative data. This way of research may be more preferable and less gender-biased than lab based research.
What is culture bias?
When research ignores cultural differences and interprets all findings through the views of one culture.. If standards for behaviour are judged from a particular standpoint it can lead to behaviours/cultures that fall outside of this being labelled abnormal or inferior.
Why might bias be inevitable in psychological research?
Psychology claims that its findings apply globally, however it may be that findings only apply to particular groups that were studied.
What are examples of assumed universality in western research?
Asch’s study into conformity and Milgram’s into obedience. They believed that their research would apply globally - however the studies actually showed very different results when applied outside the US.
What is ethnocentrism?
It is the belief that one’s own culture is superior to others. In psychological research it can be seen when it is communicated that any behaviour that deviates from a (usually western) model is somehow deficient of underdeveloped.
What is an example of ethnocentrism?
The SSS has been criticised for only reflecting the norms of american culture when studying attachment.
One key variable in attachment types was the childs reaction to separation. Ainsworth suggested that the ideal attachment was when the child showed moderate distress when left alone by the mother figure.
This has led to misinterpreation of child rearing practises that deviate from this, for example German mothers were seen as cold and rejecting rather than encouraging independence in children.
So the SSS is an inappropriate measure of attachment for non-US children. It reflects an imposed etic as Ainsworth assumed that her findings would apply universally.
How can respecting cultural relativism help avoid cultural bias?
Psychologists may uncover findings that only make sense when looked at from the perspective of the culture they were discovered in. Recognising that is a way to avoid cultural bias in research.
What are etic or emic approaches?
Etic approaches looks at behaviour from outside cultures and identifies behaviours that are universal.
Emic approaches look at cultures from inside at attempts to find behaviours specific to that culture.
