Paper 3 : Issues And Debates

Question 1

Alpha gender bias

Answer 1

Exaggerating differences between genders and favouring one over the other

Question 2

Beta bias

Answer 2

Ignoring differences between genders, assuming both are the same

Question 3

Androcentrism

Answer 3

Male centred, seeing males as the norm

Question 4

Gynocentrism

Answer 4

Female centred, seeing females as the norm

Question 5

Examples of alpha gender bias

Answer 5

Grossman role of the father

Question 6

Example of beta gender bias

Answer 6

Zimbardo (androcentric)
Ainsworth (gynocentric)

Question 7

Causes of gender bias

Answer 7

Social inequality - most studies were carried out 50 years ago when most researchers were men
Inequality in research - rosenthal found that men researchers treated women differently when participants

Question 8

Consequences of gender bias

Answer 8

Prejudice - could leads to discrimination
Wrongly applied findings

Question 9

Solutions to gender bias

Answer 9

Feminist psychology - include representation for each gender in sample and research team
Universality - different but equal

Question 10

Alpha culture bias

Answer 10

Exaggerating differences between cultures and favouring one over the other

Question 11

Beta culture bias

Answer 11

Ignoring difference between cultures and assuming they are both the same

Question 12

Ethnocentrism

Answer 12

Viewing other cultures from the perspective of your own

Question 13

Imposed etic

Answer 13

Using culturally specific method in another culture

Question 14

Cultural relativism

Answer 14

Seeing each culture as separate and judging it on its own norms and values

Question 15

Example of alpha culture bias

Answer 15

Van Ijzendoorn

Question 16

Example of beta culture bias

Answer 16

Most studies
Zimbardo

Question 17

Example of imposed etic and ethnocentrism

Answer 17

Strange situation method

Question 18

Causes of culture bias

Answer 18

Ethnocentrism in education - most studies you learn about in school are US or UK based research and written in English
Social inequality - most funding for research goes to affluent middle class

Question 19

Consequences for cultural bias

Answer 19

Prejudice
Wrongly applied findings

Question 20

Solutions to culture bias

Answer 20

Indigenous psychologies - employ psychologists who are from each culture to translate the method into something that is more relevant to that culture
Globalisation - development of technology and trnasport mean we know more about cultures than before

Question 21

Free will

Answer 21

We are in control of our actions and behaviours regardless of external or internal influences

Question 22

Free will evaluation

Answer 22

Important for moral responsibility
Most people believe we have free will

Question 23

Determinism

Answer 23

Free will does not exist and all of our actions are caused by external and internal influences

Question 24

Types of determinism

Answer 24

Hard, soft, biological, environmental, psychic

Question 25

Determinism evaluation

Answer 25

More scientific More useful Research - libet found there was brain activity fractions of a second before the participant felt the conscious urge to press a button

Question 26

Nature

Answer 26

The belief that our characteristics are given to us innately through genetic inheritance

Question 27

Evaluation for nature

Answer 27

Family studies Twin studies Adoption studies Candidate gene research

Question 28

Nurture

Answer 28

Idea that we are born as blank slates and our characteristics are the product of our upbringing and experiences

Question 29

Nurture debates

Answer 29

Family studies and twin studies, siblings or twins share the same enviorment Corcordajce rates are never 100% Hard to control all variables in adoption studies Candidate genes - epigenetics can change genes

Question 30

Interactionist approach

Answer 30

Belief that both nature and nurture are involved

Question 31

Diathesis stress

Answer 31

Assumes we have genetic predisposition but life events cause genes to express themselves

Question 32

Holism

Answer 32

Explaining a behaviour by looking at all of the different aspects and the interactions between them

Question 33

Holism evaluation

Answer 33

More valid Necessary for understanding complex phenomena like consciousness

Question 34

Reductionist

Answer 34

Breaking down phenomena to its constituent parts and ignoring the connection between parts.

Question 35

Types of reductionism

Answer 35

Biological, environmental, machine, experimental

Question 36

Reductionist evaluation

Answer 36

Easier to carry out More useful for application like treatments Allows for specialism

Question 37

Nomothetic

Answer 37

Large samples, quantitative methods, hypothesis testing, creates general laws

Question 38

Idiographic

Answer 38

Sees individual experiences as most important Small samples, qualitative methods eg case studies unstructured interviews, does not use hypothesis, find exceptions to general laws

Question 39

Idiographic evaluation

Answer 39

More internal validity More useful for specific people Required to find exceptions

Question 40

Nomothetic emulation

Answer 40

More reliable More applications

Question 41

Ethical implications

Answer 41

Effect a study can have on society

Question 42

Socially sensitive research

Answer 42

Any research that could have a negative effect on a specific group

Question 43

Sieber and Stanley

Answer 43

Identified 4 problematic areas for socially sensitive research

Question 44

Research question

Answer 44

Asking certain questions gives them scientific credibility and the researchers intentions are in question

Question 45

Treatment of participants

Answer 45

Must ensure anonymity

Question 46

Institutional context

Answer 46

Researchers may manipulate data or not publish findings they don’t like (publication bias)

Question 47

Interpretation and application of findings

Answer 47

Media or general public can interpret them in damaging ways

Question 48

Solutions for ethical implications

Answer 48

Avoid all socially sensitive research All research should be pre registered Stricter rules about how the media report on science