Issues and Debates Questions
Gender Bias:
1. Describe what is meant by the terms ‘universality’ and ‘bias’ in relation to gender (4 marks)
2. Describe one example of psychological research that demonstrates alpha bias (4 marks)
3. Describe one example of psychological research that demonstrates beta bias. (4 marks)
4. Outline what is meant by universality and bias in psychological research (6 marks)
5. Outline gender bias in psychology. Include in your answer reference to androcentrism (6 marks)
6. In relation to gender bias in psychology, evaluate the roles of alpha bias and beta bias. (6 marks)
7. Discuss gender bias in psychological research. Refer to examples of alpha bias and betta bias in your
answer. (16 marks)
8. A news website carried this item: ‘It’s official! Men and women are different. Men really are better at
maths and women really are better at talking, psychologists claimed yesterday.’
With reference to this item, describe and evaluate the role of gender bias in psychology. (16 marks)
Cultural Bias:
1. Outline what is meant by cultural bias in psychology (3 marks)
2. Describe one example of ethnocentrism in psychology (4 marks)
3. Using an example, outline the role of cultural bias in psychology (6 marks)
4. Evaluate the role of cultural bias in psychology. (6 marks)
5. Discuss cultural bias in psychology. Refer to examples of research in. your answer. (16 marks)
6. Some psychological research has been criticised for studying behaviour in one culture and assuming the
findings apply to all cultures.
Discuss cultural bias in psychology. Refer in your answer to ethnocentrism and cultural relativism. (16
marks)
Free Will and Determinism:
1. Briefly explain the concept of biological determinism (2 marks)
2. Briefly outline the free will and determinism debate in psychology (3 marks)
3. Using an example, explain what is meant by soft determinism (3 marks)
4. Distinguish between hard determinism and soft determinism (4 marks)
5. Briefly outline three types of determinism (6 marks)
6. Briefly discuss the strengths and/or limitations of taking a determinist approach in psychology (6
marks)
7. Discuss the free will and determinism debate. Refer to two topics you have studied in psychology in your
answer. (16 marks)
The Nature-Nurture Debate:
1. Explain what is meant by the term heredity. (3 marks)
2. Briefly outline the nature-nurture debate in psychology (3 marks)
3. Using an example, explain what is meant by an interactionist approach in the nature-nurture debate (3
marks)
4. Briefly discuss the relative importance of heredity and environment in determining behaviour (6 marks)
5. Discuss the nature-nurture debate. Refer to two topics you have studied in psychology in your answer
(16 marks)
6. This article appeared on a magazine’s website: ‘The way we behave comes down to a combination of
factors. People are shaped by their experiences, families and upbringing. But they are also born with
characteristics that contribute to who they are.’
With reference to the issues raised above, discuss the nature-nurture debate in psychology (16 marks)
Holism and Reductionism:
1. Briefly outline the holism-reductionism debate in psychology (3 marks)
Gender Bias:
1. Describe what is meant by the terms ‘universality’ and ‘bias’ in relation to gender (4 marks)
2. Describe one example of psychological research that demonstrates alpha bias (4 marks)
3. Describe one example of psychological research that demonstrates beta bias. (4 marks)
4. Outline what is meant by universality and bias in psychological research (6 marks)
5. Outline gender bias in psychology. Include in your answer reference to androcentrism (6 marks)
6. In relation to gender bias in psychology, evaluate the roles of alpha bias and beta bias. (6 marks)
7. Discuss gender bias in psychological research. Refer to examples of alpha bias and betta bias in your
answer. (16 marks)
8. A news website carried this item: ‘It’s official! Men and women are different. Men really are better at
maths and women really are better at talking, psychologists claimed yesterday.’
With reference to this item, describe and evaluate the role of gender bias in psychology. (16 marks)
Cultural Bias:
1. Outline what is meant by cultural bias in psychology (3 marks)
2. Describe one example of ethnocentrism in psychology (4 marks)
3. Using an example, outline the role of cultural bias in psychology (6 marks)
4. Evaluate the role of cultural bias in psychology. (6 marks)
5. Discuss cultural bias in psychology. Refer to examples of research in. your answer. (16 marks)
6. Some psychological research has been criticised for studying behaviour in one culture and assuming the
findings apply to all cultures.
Discuss cultural bias in psychology. Refer in your answer to ethnocentrism and cultural relativism. (16
marks)
Free Will and Determinism:
1. Briefly explain the concept of biological determinism (2 marks)
2. Briefly outline the free will and determinism debate in psychology (3 marks)
3. Using an example, explain what is meant by soft determinism (3 marks)
4. Distinguish between hard determinism and soft determinism (4 marks)
5. Briefly outline three types of determinism (6 marks)
6. Briefly discuss the strengths and/or limitations of taking a determinist approach in psychology (6
marks)
7. Discuss the free will and determinism debate. Refer to two topics you have studied in psychology in your
answer. (16 marks)
The Nature-Nurture Debate:
1. Explain what is meant by the term heredity. (3 marks)
2. Briefly outline the nature-nurture debate in psychology (3 marks)
3. Using an example, explain what is meant by an interactionist approach in the nature-nurture debate (3
marks)
4. Briefly discuss the relative importance of heredity and environment in determining behaviour (6 marks)
5. Discuss the nature-nurture debate. Refer to two topics you have studied in psychology in your answer
(16 marks)
6. This article appeared on a magazine’s website: ‘The way we behave comes down to a combination of
factors. People are shaped by their experiences, families and upbringing. But they are also born with
characteristics that contribute to who they are.’
With reference to the issues raised above, discuss the nature-nurture debate in psychology (16 marks)
Holism and Reductionism:
1. Briefly outline the holism-reductionism debate in psychology (3 marks)
