Issues and Debates

Question 1

Gender bias

Answer 1

Definition, alpha and beta bias with effects and examples, androcentrism, universality (Kohlberg/Gilligan)

Question 2

Culture bias

Answer 2

Definition, alpha and beta bias with examples (culture bias, ethnocentrism and cultural relativism),

Question 3

Determinism-free will

Answer 3

Determinism definition, biological/environmental/psychic/scientific determinism

Free will definition, humanistic approach, moral responsibility

Question 4

Nature-nurture

Answer 4

Definition of nature-nurture debate

Nature: genetic explanations and evolutionary explanations of how one’s characteristics affected

Nurture: Behaviourism, social learning theory, double-bind theory

Question 5

Reductionism-holism

Answer 5

Reductionism definition, levels of explanation, biological/environmental/experimental reductionism

Holism definition, Gestalt psychology, humanistic approach, cognitive approach

Question 6

Idiographic-nomothetic

Answer 6

Idiographic definition/qualitative data, methods used (unstructured interviews/case studies), examples of idiographic

Nomothetic definition/quantitative data, methods used (e.g. questionnaires/statistical analysis), examples of nomothetic

Question 7

Socially sensitive research

Answer 7

Definition, four places where may occur, some of the ethical issues be Sieber and Stanley