Describe and Evaluate Cultural Bias in Psychology
DesDeD
AO1: KNOWLEDGE & UNDERSTANDING:
Tendency to ignore cultural differences and the effects they have on behaviour. A 2010 met-analysis found 96% of
participants of psychological research were from industrialised nations and 80% were undergraduates. All participants are
therefore Westernised, Educated, Industrialised, Rich and from Democracies.
Emic Constructs- Specific to a given culture and vary from one to another, they look at behaviour within the cultural
system. May ignore sub-cultures and overstate differences. Etic Constructs- Analyses of behaviour that focuses on the
universal of human behaviour and is assumed to apply to all cultures. Ethnocentrism- Belief in the superiority of one’s
own ethnic and cultural group. Our own cultural perspective is taken as a standard by which we measure other cultures.
Culture- The beliefs and customs that a group of people share such as child-rearing practises. Cultural Relativism-
Behaviour cannot be judged properly unless valid to that culture.
Psychology has been argued to take an imposed etic approach because it argues that theories/concepts are universal
despite research being conducted using emic constructs within a specific culture- Berry (1969) EXAMPLE- The Chitling
Intelligence Test is an example of a culturally biased test that tends to favour African Americans. Cross-cultural research in
psychology shows that there are substantial variations in depressive experience and disorder, due to historical and
cultural traditions. For example, in some culture’s depression may be experience largely in somatic terms rather than with
sadness and guilt. Fear of offending others is emphasised over fear of harming one’s self in Japanese cultures. This led to
change for the criteria for social anxiety disorder.
AO3: EVALUATION AND ANALYSIS
‘Thorough, effective and focused’. Elaborate with evidence and explain why it is a strength or weakness.
Point Evidence & Explain
1. A lot of influential, classical studies are cultural-biased. Asch applied their study focused on
Americans to other cultures (Etic). This is a weakness as you should only apply conclusions
Most classical studies are to individualistic cultures if they were drawn from them. On the other hand, the
cultural-biased individualistic-collectivist distinction no longer applies. Tokano & Osaka found no evidence
of individualism or collectivism in US & Japan comparisons during a meta-analysis.
(Counterpoint)
2. Stereotyping people due to their ethnicity is ethnic stereotyping. Soldiers in WW1 were
given US intelligence test which were ethnocentric – other ethnicities therefore did poor –
Ethnic Stereotyping this gave these groups the stereotype of being unintelligent. This is a weakness of cultural
bias as it justifies prejudice & discrimination towards certain groups of people.
3. The study of how ppl shape & are shaped by their culture avoids ethnocentric assumptions
by taking an emic approach by researching from within a culture. Shows psychologists are
More awareness in now more mindful of the dangers of cultural bias & try to avoid it this is a strength of
Psychology cultural psychology.
4. We cannot achieve universality about human behaviour as culture has a massive influence
on behaviour but may be few universal behaviours that are innate e.g. facial expressions
Can we universally for emotions & infant imitation.
conform?
, Describe and Evaluate Ethical Implications
DesDeDof Research & Theories in Psychology
AO1: KNOWLEDGE & UNDERSTANDING:
Some ethical issues include deception, protection from harm, confidentiality, privacy, informed consent, right to
withdraw. Ethical guidelines are established by the BPS and their ethical implications on ppts, groups and policy are
considered.
Social Sensitivity- The consequence of some research has greater social sensitivity than others. For example, Bowlby’s
theory of attachment and monotropy made women feel guilty for going to work. Consequence must be analysed before a
study is undertaken to ensure it doesn’t have a negative consequence for social groups, social policy or ppts. There are
three ethical implications on the research process:
Research Questions- The way they are phrased and investigated could influence the way findings are interpreted.
Homosexual bias is shown in some research into alternative relationships due to question phrasing.
Dealing with ppts- Ethical issues are especially important in socially sensitive research.
Way findings are used- Results may be giving scientific credibility to previous prejudices. The media will be interested in
and publicise such sensitive research which will have dramatic effects on society.
AO3: EVALUATION AND ANALYSIS
‘Thorough, effective and focused’. Elaborate with evidence and explain why it is a strength or weakness.
Point Evidence & Explain
1. Research could have benefits for the studied group. In 1957 DSM-1 listed being
Benefits for group studied homosexual as a sociopathic personality disorder but it was removed in 1973 after the
Kingsley report of over 5000 anonymous men and women. The report concluded it was a
typical human expression and incited the change. This shows the strengths and how
socially sensitive research can help tackle sensitive topics. Can have a huge impact on
social policy for education, child care, mental health, crime etc.
2. Socially sensitive topics and the outcomes can have big influences on society. Most studies
Counterpoint must carefully consider the societal benefits and risks that the conclusions will create.
Because of the possible implications this type of research has, only 50% of socially
sensitive research proposals get approved. Non-socially sensitive research is approved 95%
of the time! But this shouldn’t stop this research.
3. Policy makers use socially sensitive research to decide how to enforce and create policy in
Real-world Application the real world. People like ONS help the government and others use data and statistics by
gathering, analysing and presenting it. It uses psychological research and is used In it.
4.
Poor research design could lead to erroneous findings of a socially sensitive issue which
Poor Research Design
can have a lasting impact on who or what it affects. Carl Barts twin studies convinced the
government to introduce 11+ deciding exam for schools. Concluded intelligence genetically
shows itself by this time but his research was publicly discredited after fabrications in
method were discovered.
This is a limitation of socially sensitive research and shows that careful planning of
DesDeD
AO1: KNOWLEDGE & UNDERSTANDING:
Tendency to ignore cultural differences and the effects they have on behaviour. A 2010 met-analysis found 96% of
participants of psychological research were from industrialised nations and 80% were undergraduates. All participants are
therefore Westernised, Educated, Industrialised, Rich and from Democracies.
Emic Constructs- Specific to a given culture and vary from one to another, they look at behaviour within the cultural
system. May ignore sub-cultures and overstate differences. Etic Constructs- Analyses of behaviour that focuses on the
universal of human behaviour and is assumed to apply to all cultures. Ethnocentrism- Belief in the superiority of one’s
own ethnic and cultural group. Our own cultural perspective is taken as a standard by which we measure other cultures.
Culture- The beliefs and customs that a group of people share such as child-rearing practises. Cultural Relativism-
Behaviour cannot be judged properly unless valid to that culture.
Psychology has been argued to take an imposed etic approach because it argues that theories/concepts are universal
despite research being conducted using emic constructs within a specific culture- Berry (1969) EXAMPLE- The Chitling
Intelligence Test is an example of a culturally biased test that tends to favour African Americans. Cross-cultural research in
psychology shows that there are substantial variations in depressive experience and disorder, due to historical and
cultural traditions. For example, in some culture’s depression may be experience largely in somatic terms rather than with
sadness and guilt. Fear of offending others is emphasised over fear of harming one’s self in Japanese cultures. This led to
change for the criteria for social anxiety disorder.
AO3: EVALUATION AND ANALYSIS
‘Thorough, effective and focused’. Elaborate with evidence and explain why it is a strength or weakness.
Point Evidence & Explain
1. A lot of influential, classical studies are cultural-biased. Asch applied their study focused on
Americans to other cultures (Etic). This is a weakness as you should only apply conclusions
Most classical studies are to individualistic cultures if they were drawn from them. On the other hand, the
cultural-biased individualistic-collectivist distinction no longer applies. Tokano & Osaka found no evidence
of individualism or collectivism in US & Japan comparisons during a meta-analysis.
(Counterpoint)
2. Stereotyping people due to their ethnicity is ethnic stereotyping. Soldiers in WW1 were
given US intelligence test which were ethnocentric – other ethnicities therefore did poor –
Ethnic Stereotyping this gave these groups the stereotype of being unintelligent. This is a weakness of cultural
bias as it justifies prejudice & discrimination towards certain groups of people.
3. The study of how ppl shape & are shaped by their culture avoids ethnocentric assumptions
by taking an emic approach by researching from within a culture. Shows psychologists are
More awareness in now more mindful of the dangers of cultural bias & try to avoid it this is a strength of
Psychology cultural psychology.
4. We cannot achieve universality about human behaviour as culture has a massive influence
on behaviour but may be few universal behaviours that are innate e.g. facial expressions
Can we universally for emotions & infant imitation.
conform?
, Describe and Evaluate Ethical Implications
DesDeDof Research & Theories in Psychology
AO1: KNOWLEDGE & UNDERSTANDING:
Some ethical issues include deception, protection from harm, confidentiality, privacy, informed consent, right to
withdraw. Ethical guidelines are established by the BPS and their ethical implications on ppts, groups and policy are
considered.
Social Sensitivity- The consequence of some research has greater social sensitivity than others. For example, Bowlby’s
theory of attachment and monotropy made women feel guilty for going to work. Consequence must be analysed before a
study is undertaken to ensure it doesn’t have a negative consequence for social groups, social policy or ppts. There are
three ethical implications on the research process:
Research Questions- The way they are phrased and investigated could influence the way findings are interpreted.
Homosexual bias is shown in some research into alternative relationships due to question phrasing.
Dealing with ppts- Ethical issues are especially important in socially sensitive research.
Way findings are used- Results may be giving scientific credibility to previous prejudices. The media will be interested in
and publicise such sensitive research which will have dramatic effects on society.
AO3: EVALUATION AND ANALYSIS
‘Thorough, effective and focused’. Elaborate with evidence and explain why it is a strength or weakness.
Point Evidence & Explain
1. Research could have benefits for the studied group. In 1957 DSM-1 listed being
Benefits for group studied homosexual as a sociopathic personality disorder but it was removed in 1973 after the
Kingsley report of over 5000 anonymous men and women. The report concluded it was a
typical human expression and incited the change. This shows the strengths and how
socially sensitive research can help tackle sensitive topics. Can have a huge impact on
social policy for education, child care, mental health, crime etc.
2. Socially sensitive topics and the outcomes can have big influences on society. Most studies
Counterpoint must carefully consider the societal benefits and risks that the conclusions will create.
Because of the possible implications this type of research has, only 50% of socially
sensitive research proposals get approved. Non-socially sensitive research is approved 95%
of the time! But this shouldn’t stop this research.
3. Policy makers use socially sensitive research to decide how to enforce and create policy in
Real-world Application the real world. People like ONS help the government and others use data and statistics by
gathering, analysing and presenting it. It uses psychological research and is used In it.
4.
Poor research design could lead to erroneous findings of a socially sensitive issue which
Poor Research Design
can have a lasting impact on who or what it affects. Carl Barts twin studies convinced the
government to introduce 11+ deciding exam for schools. Concluded intelligence genetically
shows itself by this time but his research was publicly discredited after fabrications in
method were discovered.
This is a limitation of socially sensitive research and shows that careful planning of
