Approaches part b
The behaviourist approach lends itself to scientific research and so behaviours such as watching soap
operas can be tested in a laboratory setting.
The behaviourist approach is biologically determinist and believes that people watching soap operas have
no control over their environment.
The behaviourist approach is reductionist and reduces complex behaviours such as reasons for watching
soap operas into stimulus response links.
The behaviourist approach was improved (social cognition theory) so that watching soap operas can now be
tested for concepts such as modelling and self efficacy.
The behaviourist approach ignores genetic factors to do with watching soap operas it also ignores past
experiences which could influence present behaviour.
Because research is tested in the laboratory findings may lack validity and so they cannot be generalised to
all human beings.
Cultural bias
Serious problems of cultural bias have arisen in the attachment theory. Firstly most of the work done in this
area was conducted in western universities and childhood research establishments. Examples include the
work of Bolwby (uk) and the Glasgow babies study (Shaffer and Emerson). Secondly methodological
problems occurred with the widespread use of the strange situation research tool (Ainsworth and Bell).
the strange situation was developed in the U.S. the logic of it was that certain mother infant interaction
patters are understood to indicate an underlying attachment type. The strange situation was then used in
several countries however the particular child rearing practices of those countries were not taken into
account. Interesting comparisons between countries emerged 32% of japanease children compared with
10% U.S were classed as insecure and resistant. The strange situation assumes that the interaction
patterns are due to attachment type however particular child rearing practices interfere with this (e.g
japanease children are always near to their mothers) in conclusion cross cultural research did show
important differences between these cultures however the assumption that these differences were entirely
about attatchment type was biased as a methodological tool the s.s method is an example of an imposed
etic.
Theories of race and intelligence are a socially sensitive area of research. They are notorious in the 20 th
centuary. There have been Observed differences in IQ test performance between different groups (e.g
white and black Americans) however there have been problems with faulty methodology and theoretical
problems. Theoretical problems include the concept of race. This has very little meaning for scientific
research and is more of a social concept. However it may be scientifically valid to ask weather different
ethinc groups may have differences in interlectual abilities (just like we have differences in physical
abilities)
The questions asked are about race and deprivation. Are the observed differences due to genetic or
evolutionary factors? (deprivation) because social deprivation is often related to ethnic/ cultural
background it has been difficult to get comparable samples. Mackintosh studied white and west Indian
children matched for social deprivation and some unmatched. He found a 9 point difference in the
unmatched group but a 2.6 difference in the matched group. Therefore the study has shown that it is
difficult to separate ethnicity from deprivation in western society and it is difficult to quantify social
deprivation. Also the study exposed the methodological faults in earlier studies.
Culture fair tests
Still biased
Study to go with it
The behaviourist approach lends itself to scientific research and so behaviours such as watching soap
operas can be tested in a laboratory setting.
The behaviourist approach is biologically determinist and believes that people watching soap operas have
no control over their environment.
The behaviourist approach is reductionist and reduces complex behaviours such as reasons for watching
soap operas into stimulus response links.
The behaviourist approach was improved (social cognition theory) so that watching soap operas can now be
tested for concepts such as modelling and self efficacy.
The behaviourist approach ignores genetic factors to do with watching soap operas it also ignores past
experiences which could influence present behaviour.
Because research is tested in the laboratory findings may lack validity and so they cannot be generalised to
all human beings.
Cultural bias
Serious problems of cultural bias have arisen in the attachment theory. Firstly most of the work done in this
area was conducted in western universities and childhood research establishments. Examples include the
work of Bolwby (uk) and the Glasgow babies study (Shaffer and Emerson). Secondly methodological
problems occurred with the widespread use of the strange situation research tool (Ainsworth and Bell).
the strange situation was developed in the U.S. the logic of it was that certain mother infant interaction
patters are understood to indicate an underlying attachment type. The strange situation was then used in
several countries however the particular child rearing practices of those countries were not taken into
account. Interesting comparisons between countries emerged 32% of japanease children compared with
10% U.S were classed as insecure and resistant. The strange situation assumes that the interaction
patterns are due to attachment type however particular child rearing practices interfere with this (e.g
japanease children are always near to their mothers) in conclusion cross cultural research did show
important differences between these cultures however the assumption that these differences were entirely
about attatchment type was biased as a methodological tool the s.s method is an example of an imposed
etic.
Theories of race and intelligence are a socially sensitive area of research. They are notorious in the 20 th
centuary. There have been Observed differences in IQ test performance between different groups (e.g
white and black Americans) however there have been problems with faulty methodology and theoretical
problems. Theoretical problems include the concept of race. This has very little meaning for scientific
research and is more of a social concept. However it may be scientifically valid to ask weather different
ethinc groups may have differences in interlectual abilities (just like we have differences in physical
abilities)
The questions asked are about race and deprivation. Are the observed differences due to genetic or
evolutionary factors? (deprivation) because social deprivation is often related to ethnic/ cultural
background it has been difficult to get comparable samples. Mackintosh studied white and west Indian
children matched for social deprivation and some unmatched. He found a 9 point difference in the
unmatched group but a 2.6 difference in the matched group. Therefore the study has shown that it is
difficult to separate ethnicity from deprivation in western society and it is difficult to quantify social
deprivation. Also the study exposed the methodological faults in earlier studies.
Culture fair tests
Still biased
Study to go with it
