Cultural and Gender Bias
- Cultural bias occurs when researchers make assumptions based on their own cultural background, leading to findings that may not be universally applicable.
- Gender bias involves assumptions based on gender, often leading to the overrepresentation or underrepresentation of one gender in research.
WEIRD Samples and Generalisability
- WEIRD stands for Western, Educated, Industrialised, Rich, and Democratic.
- These samples are often used in psychological research, leading to limited generalisability of findings.
Example
Henrich et al. (2010) highlighted that 96% of psychological research participants come from WEIRD societies, which represent only 12% of the world's population.
Analogy
Imagine judging the world's diet based only on one city's menu. This is similar to relying on WEIRD samples to make universal claims about human behavior.
Analogy
- Have you ever tried the New York Times Crossword? It often contains U.S. American cultural references, which may make it difficult for someone not from the USA.
- Many studies include tests/questionnaires that are inherently cultural and cannot be effectively completed by people of different backgrounds.
Androcentrism
- Androcentrism is the tendency to view male behavior as the norm, often leading to the marginalization of female perspectives.
Example
Kohlberg's Theory of Moral Development:
- Kohlberg's stages were based on male participants, leading to the assumption that females were less morally developed.
- Gilligan (1982) criticized this, arguing that women's moral reasoning is different but not inferior.
Ethnocentrism
- Ethnocentrism is the tendency to view one's culture as the standard, so other cultures appear different/abnormal.
Example
- In Western cultures, major depressive disorder is more likely to present as negative patterns of thinking and low mood
- However, in East Asia, it may present as somatic (stomach aches, headaches)
- Therefore, if you were to judge an East Asian person based on Western standards, they may be misdiagnosed.
Implications of Bias
- Limited Generalisability: Findings based on biased samples may not apply to other cultures or genders.
- Misrepresentation: Gender bias can lead to the underrepresentation of women in research, affecting the validity of findings.
Critical Thinking
- How can researchers ensure more diverse samples in their studies?
- What are the ethical implications of relying on biased samples?
- How has the field of psychology evolved to address these biases?
Reflection
Self review
- What does WEIRD stand for, and why is it a limitation in psychological research?
- How did Kohlberg's theory demonstrate androcentrism?
- What strategies can be used to reduce cultural and gender bias in research?
