Paper 3
Issues & debates + Relationships
, Gender bias 1. Gender differences are given as fixed and enduring:
Maccoby and Jacklin (1974) concluded that girls have better verbal ability and boys have better spatial
Bias: when considering human behaviour, bias is a tendency to
ability - due to hardwired biological brain differences. Joel et al (2015) used brain scanning and found
treat one individual or group in a different way from others, which
no such gender differences. Suggesting we should be wary of accepting research as biological facts
creates a distorted view of the world.
when it might be explained better as social stereotypes.
HW + Multitasking:
Gender bias: a type of bias where psychological research or theory
Ingalhalikar et al (2014) suggested the popular social stereotypes that females are better at
may offer a view that does not justifiably represent the experience
multitasking may have some biological truth to it - their hemispheres are better connected. This
of men or women (usually women). It is the differential treatment or
representation of men and women based on stereotypes rather than suggests that there may be biological differences but we still should be wary of exaggerating the
real differences. effect they may have on behaviour.
Alpha Bias: Psychological theories/research that over exaggerate 2. Gender bias promotes sexism in the research process:
or overestimate differences between the sexes. Women are underrepresented in university departments (Murphy et al - 2014) Research is more likely
to be conducted by males which may disadvantage females. For example, a male researcher may
Alpha bias favouring males: Freud claimed that children in the expect female participants to be irrational and unable to complete complex tasks which may mean
phallic stage, desire their opposite sex parent. This is resolved by they underperform. Meaning institutional structures and methods of psychology may produce
identification with their same sex parent. But girls' identification is findings that are gender biassed.
weaker, creating a weaker superego and weaker moral FM - Research challenging bias may not be published:
development. Formanowicz et al (2018) analysed 1000 articles relating to gender bias - such research is funded less
often and is published by less prestigious journals. This still held true when gender bias was
Alpha bias favouring females: Chodorow said that daughters and compared to ethnic bias, and when other factors were controlled (gender of author and
mothers are more connected than mothers and sons because of the methodology). This suggests that gender bias in psychological research may not be taken as seriously
biological similarities - so women develop better bonds and as other forms of bias.
empathy for others.
3. + misleading assumptions made
Beta Bias: Psychological theories/research that ignore, minimise or Assumptions about females behaviour mislead and fails to challenge negative stereotypes and creates
underestimate differences between the sexes. discriminatory practices.
HW + modern researchers recognise the effect assumptions have on their work (reflexivity) and
Androcentrism: Female behaviour being misunderstood and embrace them as a crucial aspect of the research process. This suggests that gender bias may add an
pathologized. extra dimension to research if psychologists are up front about it in their work.
Issues & debates + Relationships
, Gender bias 1. Gender differences are given as fixed and enduring:
Maccoby and Jacklin (1974) concluded that girls have better verbal ability and boys have better spatial
Bias: when considering human behaviour, bias is a tendency to
ability - due to hardwired biological brain differences. Joel et al (2015) used brain scanning and found
treat one individual or group in a different way from others, which
no such gender differences. Suggesting we should be wary of accepting research as biological facts
creates a distorted view of the world.
when it might be explained better as social stereotypes.
HW + Multitasking:
Gender bias: a type of bias where psychological research or theory
Ingalhalikar et al (2014) suggested the popular social stereotypes that females are better at
may offer a view that does not justifiably represent the experience
multitasking may have some biological truth to it - their hemispheres are better connected. This
of men or women (usually women). It is the differential treatment or
representation of men and women based on stereotypes rather than suggests that there may be biological differences but we still should be wary of exaggerating the
real differences. effect they may have on behaviour.
Alpha Bias: Psychological theories/research that over exaggerate 2. Gender bias promotes sexism in the research process:
or overestimate differences between the sexes. Women are underrepresented in university departments (Murphy et al - 2014) Research is more likely
to be conducted by males which may disadvantage females. For example, a male researcher may
Alpha bias favouring males: Freud claimed that children in the expect female participants to be irrational and unable to complete complex tasks which may mean
phallic stage, desire their opposite sex parent. This is resolved by they underperform. Meaning institutional structures and methods of psychology may produce
identification with their same sex parent. But girls' identification is findings that are gender biassed.
weaker, creating a weaker superego and weaker moral FM - Research challenging bias may not be published:
development. Formanowicz et al (2018) analysed 1000 articles relating to gender bias - such research is funded less
often and is published by less prestigious journals. This still held true when gender bias was
Alpha bias favouring females: Chodorow said that daughters and compared to ethnic bias, and when other factors were controlled (gender of author and
mothers are more connected than mothers and sons because of the methodology). This suggests that gender bias in psychological research may not be taken as seriously
biological similarities - so women develop better bonds and as other forms of bias.
empathy for others.
3. + misleading assumptions made
Beta Bias: Psychological theories/research that ignore, minimise or Assumptions about females behaviour mislead and fails to challenge negative stereotypes and creates
underestimate differences between the sexes. discriminatory practices.
HW + modern researchers recognise the effect assumptions have on their work (reflexivity) and
Androcentrism: Female behaviour being misunderstood and embrace them as a crucial aspect of the research process. This suggests that gender bias may add an
pathologized. extra dimension to research if psychologists are up front about it in their work.
