Issues and Debates
Outline the cultural bias in psychology (6 marks)
The issue in this debate is whether we can solve culture bias in psychological research. An
example of cultural bias was research done by Henrich (2010) who found American students
are 4000 times more likely to be a participant in a psychology study than a random non-
Westerner.
There are 2 types of bias: alpha and beta bias.
Alpha bias refers to idea of exaggerating a cultural bias in research. For example, research
done by Takano and Osaka (1999) found cannot distinguish between individualist and
collectivist countries as when they compared 15 studies with Japan and US, there were little
to no differences in conformity.
Beta bias refers to theories ignoring or minimising cultural differences. For example, western
societies see intelligence as something within individuals, but collectivist cultures see
intelligence as a functional relationship depending on shared knowledge between
individuals and society.
Ethnocentrism refers to the use of our own ethic or cultural groups as a basis for judgements
about other groups.
Ethnocentrism is an example of alpha bias because people may devalue other cultures if
they see their culture as better. An example would be where individualist see independence
as valued and dependence as undesirable, but in collectivist countries this tends to be the
complete opposite.
Ethnocentrism can lead to beta bias, if psychology believes in 1 view. For example, the case
of IQ testing above results from ethnocentrism where it was believed it was appropriate to
use USA IQ tests all over the world because there was an assumption that USA standard was
universal.
The main issue with culturally biased research is it can lead to overgeneralisation, which is
bad for psychology.
Outline the free will and determinism (6 marks)
Issue with this debate: whether behaviour is caused by choice (free will) or caused by
external and internal factors (determinism)
Free will= everyone has the power to make choices about their behaviour
1. Humanism=
believes only when individuals take self-responsibility, personal growth is
possible
E.g. Rogers (1959) = individuals cannot begin to change unless they begin to
take responsibility for their actions and if they are controlled by others or
other things
2. Moral responsibility=
The basis is that an individual oversees their own actions
there is an assumption that normal adult behaviour is self-determined
Determinism= behaviour controlled by external and internal factors
2 types of determinism
Hard determinism:
I. View all behaviour can be predicted and there is no free will
Outline the cultural bias in psychology (6 marks)
The issue in this debate is whether we can solve culture bias in psychological research. An
example of cultural bias was research done by Henrich (2010) who found American students
are 4000 times more likely to be a participant in a psychology study than a random non-
Westerner.
There are 2 types of bias: alpha and beta bias.
Alpha bias refers to idea of exaggerating a cultural bias in research. For example, research
done by Takano and Osaka (1999) found cannot distinguish between individualist and
collectivist countries as when they compared 15 studies with Japan and US, there were little
to no differences in conformity.
Beta bias refers to theories ignoring or minimising cultural differences. For example, western
societies see intelligence as something within individuals, but collectivist cultures see
intelligence as a functional relationship depending on shared knowledge between
individuals and society.
Ethnocentrism refers to the use of our own ethic or cultural groups as a basis for judgements
about other groups.
Ethnocentrism is an example of alpha bias because people may devalue other cultures if
they see their culture as better. An example would be where individualist see independence
as valued and dependence as undesirable, but in collectivist countries this tends to be the
complete opposite.
Ethnocentrism can lead to beta bias, if psychology believes in 1 view. For example, the case
of IQ testing above results from ethnocentrism where it was believed it was appropriate to
use USA IQ tests all over the world because there was an assumption that USA standard was
universal.
The main issue with culturally biased research is it can lead to overgeneralisation, which is
bad for psychology.
Outline the free will and determinism (6 marks)
Issue with this debate: whether behaviour is caused by choice (free will) or caused by
external and internal factors (determinism)
Free will= everyone has the power to make choices about their behaviour
1. Humanism=
believes only when individuals take self-responsibility, personal growth is
possible
E.g. Rogers (1959) = individuals cannot begin to change unless they begin to
take responsibility for their actions and if they are controlled by others or
other things
2. Moral responsibility=
The basis is that an individual oversees their own actions
there is an assumption that normal adult behaviour is self-determined
Determinism= behaviour controlled by external and internal factors
2 types of determinism
Hard determinism:
I. View all behaviour can be predicted and there is no free will
