Issues & Debates -> Issues

Question 1

Universality

Answer 1

means the conclusions drawn can be applied to everyone, anywhere.

Question 2

Gender Bias

Answer 2

Gender bias is when psychological research may offer a view that does not justifiably represent the experience of men or women (usually women).

Question 3

Alpha bias:

Answer 3

A misrepresentation of behaviour because researchers overestimate the differences between the genders.

These differences often devalue women in relation to men.

Question 4

Beta bias:

Answer 4

A misrepresentation of behaviour because researchers underestimate gender differences. This often happens when female participants’ are not included in a research study, but it is still assumed that the findings can be applied

Question 5

Androcentrism

Answer 5

• consequence of beta bias

normal behaviour is being drawn from research that involves all male participants then behaviour which deviates from this is likely to be viewed as abnormal.

Question 6

Strengths of gender bias

Answer 6

Male v female researchers
Gender differences
Institutional sexism
&
Essentialist
Psychological differences

Question 7

Weaknesses of gender bias

Answer 7

Recognise the effect of their own assumptions
&
Meaningful life contexts
Participate
Diversity
Collaborative research

Question 8

Cultural Bias

Answer 8

Cultural bias is the tendency to judge people in terms of one’s own cultural assumptions.

Use researchers who are native to the culture being investigated, carry out cross-cultural research rather than research with a sole culture, and be sensitive to cultural norms when designing research.

Question 9

Ethnocentrism

Answer 9

Ethnocentrism is emphasising the importance of the behaviour of one’s own culture.
- a view that any behaviours that do not conform to the (usually Western) model are somehow deficient, unsophisticated or underdeveloped.

Question 10

Cultural Relativism

Answer 10

The idea that a behaviour can only be properly understood in the context of the norms and values of the culture in which it occurs.

Question 11

Strengths of cultural relativism

Answer 11

African-Caribbean immigrants
7x
Validity
&
Mental illnesses that only exist in some cultures

Question 12

Weaknesses of cultural relativism

Answer 12

Cross-cultural research
Counters scientific racism
&
Universal behaviours