gender bias- ISSUES AND DEBATES

Question 1

What is universality?

Answer 1

• idea that conclusions drawn can be applied to anyone, anywhere, regardless of time or culture

Question 2

What is bias?

Answer 2

• inevitable part of research method
• psychologists have beliefs and values which have been influenced by the social and historical context that they live in

Question 3

What’s alpha bias?

Answer 3

• theories that EXAGGERATE the differences between men and women
• Bowlby theory that without the mother’s love children are affection less psychopaths or struggle mentally.

Question 4

What’s beta bias?

Answer 4

• theories that IGNORE the differences between men and women
• fault to consider questions about the lives of women or assume that the findings apply equally
• studies have resulted in an andocentric view of behaviour, rather than offering insights into what is half of the human race.

eg ASCH
study was done on males and then applied to everyone—> women may conform for different reasons.

Question 5

What is andro-centrism?

Answer 5

• consequence of beta bias
• if behavioural norms are based upon studies and research done only on male participants, then any behaviour that deviates from this standard is considered abnormal——–> this leads to female behaviour being misunderstood and pathologies ( taken as a sign of mental inability)
• Kohlberg’s levels of moral reasoning- research only done on males and just applied to females. Gilliga researched into differences in moral development in males and females and found a difference.
• females focus on how their actions affect others whereas males focus on justice and fairness.

Question 6

AO3- gender bias

Answer 6

• gender biased research may give scientific support to deny women opportunities in the workplace and wider community. —> GB isn’t just a methodological issue, but an issue that has damaging effects on the lives and prospects of women.
• lack of women appointed at senior research levels in psychology means that female concerns may not be reflected in the research questions asked. male researchers are more likely to have their research published, and studies with evidence of gender differences are more likely to be journal articles.
• also , lab studies further disadvantage women—> they’re placed in an inequitable relationship woth a usually male researcher who has the power to deem them incompetent and unreasonable.
• many psychologists are now accepting how their biases influence their interpretation of the research findings and include and reflect upon this in their reports.

Question 7

AO3- GB.

how do lab experiments disadvantage women ?

Answer 7

• women are placed in an inequitable relationship with a (usually male) researcher who has the ability to label them unreasonable, irrational and unable to complete complex tasks.
• psychology is accused of supporting an institutional form of sexism.

Question 8

AO3- GB. Worrel put forward a number of criteria to adhere to in order to avoid gender bias in research.

Answer 8

• women should be studied with meaningful, real life contexts and genuinely participate in the study rather than being the objects of study.