Paper 3 - Issues And Debates - Biases Flashcards
What is universality
Universality - any underlying characteristic of human beings which is capable of being applied to all
What are 2 objectives (validity) that researchers try to do?
Psychologists attempt to conduct research that is objective and value free
What is the a massive problem when doing psychological research?
Leading to?
Everyone has unconscious biases which could influence their findings and conclusions
This can undermine the universality of the research (it being applied to all human beings)
What is Alpha bias?
When the difference between men and women are exaggerated either heighten the value of women or to devalue them, without bias. These differences are presented as real and enduring, fixed and inevitable.
Give an example of Alpha Bias?
sociobiological theory
Wilson (1975) - sociobiological theory of relationship formation focuses on “survival efficiency”
It believes that it is in a males’s interest to try and impregnate as many women as possible as this will guarantee that his genes will he passed through the generations
For the female their best chance is to secure the sperm of a healthy man to increase the survival of her offspring
Which concludes to:
Sexual promiscuity in males is genetically determined, whilst women who engaged in similar activity are seen as going against their nature
What is beta bias?
When differences between the sexes are ignored, minimised or underestimated without evidence.
This often happens when a experiment is only males and the researchers assume that there will be no differences between the sexes
Who gives us an example of Beta Bias
Kohlberg
What is the example of Beta bias (Kohlberg)
He stage of moral dvelopment was based entirely on a longtitudional sample of american men
Though he argued his findings were universals and response of both men and women
He claimed that women generally reached lower levels of development (androcentrism)
What is Androcentrism also know as?
Institutional sexism
Androcentrism
Male focused/centred research. This is a consequence of beta bias when women are excluded from studies. If normal behaviour is based of studies with only male samples, normal female behaviours will be seen as abnormal.
So female behaviour is misunderstood and underrepresented
What is Gynocentrism?
A study conducted only on females but generalised also to males
Give a really good example of alpha bias?
Karen Horney stated it was wrong to think females as being envious of penises
She coined the term womb envy in which makes re envious of a women ability of childbirth
What is cultural bias?
A tendency to ignore cultural differences and interpret all behaviours through the lens’ of one’s own culture
What is ethnocentrism?
A type of cultural bias - Judging other cultures by the valuers and standards of one’s own culture. This can result in feelings of superiority for one’s own culture which can lead to problems of prejudice and bias
What is cultural relativism?
The idea that norms, values, ethics and standards differ from culture to culture and so can only be understood within specific social and cultural contexts
More valid studies will recognise cultural relativism
What is alpha bias in terms of culture?
Alpha bias assumes that there are real and enduring differences between cultural groups.
Define Beta bias in terms of culture?
Beta bias refers to theories which ignore or minimise any differences in culture.
Give an example of beta bias in terms of culture?
For example the use of IQ tests on non western cultures
Give an example of alpha bias in terms of culture?
For example differences between collective and individualistic societies
Give some examples of ethnocentric studies?
Milgriam
Asch
Ainsworth