Issues & debates AO1

Question 1

Ethical implications definition?
and examples

Answer 1

Considering the impact or consequences that psychological research has on the rights of other people in a wider context, not just the participants taking part in the research.

E.g. deception, informed consent, protection from harm etc.

Question 2

What is socially sensitive research?

Answer 2

• Sieber and Stanley
  1) Research question
  2) Methodology used
  3) Institutional context
  4) Interpretation and application of findings

Question 3

Topic that links into examples of ethical implications?

Answer 3

• Social influence (specifically Milgram’s obedience)
• Ppts deceived, unable to give fully informed consent
• Caused distress
• Continued against their will
• CP, debreifed post experiment, follow up interview
• No long term effects

Question 4

Topic that links to socially sensitive research?

Answer 4

• Attachment (Bowlby)
• His theory suggests 1 special bond (usually mother) in critical period
• Also that affects future relations
• Helped with childcare practices
• ‘Mothers place is in the home’ creates guilt for returning to work

Question 5

Culture bias

Answer 5

A tendency to treat one individual or group in a different way from others. Critics argue that mainstream psychology has generally ignored culture. Most studies are carried out in Western culture.

Question 6

Universality?

Answer 6

If the ‘norm’ for a particular behaviour is judge only from one culture, then any cultural differences in behaviour, will be classed as abnormal.

Question 7

Cultural relativism?

Answer 7

Behaviour etc is ‘relative’ (links) to the culture in which the person is from.

Question 8

Ethnocentrism?

Answer 8

Refers to particular form of cultural bias and is a belief in the superiority of one’s own cultural group.

Question 9

Topic that links to ethnocentrism?

Answer 9

• Social influence (Milgram obedience), explain briefly what Milgram did
• In America
• Findings used to explain obedience to authority figures across all cultures
• Cultures respond differently

Question 10

Etic approach?

Answer 10

Looks at behaviour from outside of a given culture and then produces findings considered to have universal application.

Question 11

Topic that links to the Etic approach?

Answer 11

• Attachment (Ainsworth)
• Strange situation
• Studied behaviour in America then assumed her ideal attachment style could be applied universally
• German mother (discuss this further)

Question 12

Emic approach?

Answer 12

An emic approach functions from within certain cultures and identifies behaviours that are specific to that culture.

Question 13

Gender bias?

Answer 13

Psychological research or theory may offer a view that does not justifiably represent the experience and behaviour of men or women (usually women).

Question 14

Universality?

Answer 14

Any underlying characteristic of human beings that is capable of being applied to all, despite differences of upbringing and experience.

Question 15

Three main ways gender bias can occur?

Answer 15

1) All male samples. This not being made clear in the report and findings generalised to women.
2) Biological differences emphasis. May not take into account social & external factors.
3) Androcentrism - Male behaviour taken as the norm. Behaviour of women seen as deviation from norm.

Question 16

Topic that links to androcentrism?

Answer 16

• Social influence (Milgram obedience)
• Initial study was male only
• Findings applied to both males and females

Question 17

Alpha bias?

Answer 17

Psychological theories that suggest there are real and enduring differences between men and women. These may enhance or undervalue members of either sex, but typically undervalue females.

Question 18

Beta bias?

Answer 18

When theories/research/conclusions ignore or minimise differences between the sexes.

Question 19

Topic that links to Beta bias?

Answer 19

• Biopsychology (original fight/flight assertion by Selye)
• Documented as universal
• Taylor found women have different reaction (‘tend and befriend’)