1. Culture Bias in Psychological Research
Issues and Debates
Culture Bias in Psychological Research

2. Structuring Issues and Debates
AO1
Describe the issue or debate
Exemplify with research
AO2
Apply to research
AO3
Evaluate the issue or debate (3)

3. Culture
Essay Plan

4. The same two forms as gender bias (alpha and beta).
Culture Bias
The tendency to judge people in terms of one's own cultural assumptions.
The same two forms as gender bias (alpha and beta).
Ethnocentrism
Cultural Relativism
Alpha Bias
Beta Bias

5. Key Terms (examples not needed yet)
Ethnocentrism
Laura
Josh
Nawa
Cultural Relativism
Louise
Andi
Fowse
Habiba
Alpha Bias
Gabby
Alex
Beza
Beta Bias
Samantha
Dojan
Portia
Yasmin

6. Read Pick Explain Culture Bias AO1 Read your word together
Explain your term and why you have chosen your image.
Pick
Pick one image which you think fits in best with your key term.
Read
Read your word together
Culture Bias AO1

7. Ethnocentrism in a good way

8. Ethnocentrism

9. Cultural Relativism

10. Beta Bias

11. Alpha Bias

12. What could be the impact of…?
Good and Bad?
What could be the impact of…?
Ethnocentrism
Cultural Relativism

13. How would each approach respond?
Ethnocentrism
Cultural Relativism

14. Why do we have this problem in our science??
Psychology is predominantly a white, Euro-American enterprise
64% of psychological researchers from US
In some texts, 90% of studies have US Participants
Samples predominantly white middle class
Can psychological theories/studied be considered to be universal?
Why do we have this problem in our science??

15. Ethnocentrism and Cultural Relativism
We are the standard that everyone should measure themselves against
We cannot understand a culture unless through the lens of that culture
We are the world!
All cultures are completely and wildly different and need specialist research techniques
We are normal, people that aren’t like us are weird!
All cultures are worthy of respect

16. Examples
Individualism VS Collectivism- assuming that they are completely different. The former being more conformist due to communist history and the latter less so, due to individualist values of independence. Takano and Osaka ‘99 found that when comparisng the US and Japan in these terms, that 14/15 didn’t support the common view of conformity.
What type of Culture Bias is the view of Individualism and Collectivism?
Cultural Relativism and Alpha Bias

17. Examples
The traditional IQ Test (Stanford) measures intelligence as something to be found within the individual. As this is a western concepts, it ignores e.g. the Ugandan view that intelligence is a functional relationship between the individual and the society.
As a result non-western people are continually perceived as less intelligent on the Stanford IQ test.
Ethnocentrism, Beta Bias, the USA standard is universal

18. Examples
The strange situation measures attachment and categorises infants as secure or insecure. This methodology leads to UK and US infants categorised as secure as they reflect desirable norms and values contained within the research methodology.
In Germany, where independence is values, and Japan, where dependence is values, these infants are considered to be insecurely attached.
Ethnocentrism, Alpha Bias… our behaviours are the standard and are the best

19. Examples
Margaret Mead was an Anthropologist who worked with the Trobiand Islanders in Papua New Guinea. Anthropologists use Emic methods, which means going into the culture and understanding them from within.
The only problem is that she falsely assumed that all traits were different in each cultural group, and only later identified that across all groups there were some universals. An example would be that fact that men tended to be more aggressive universally.
Cultural Relativism- Alpha bias as she assumed real differences.

20. Examples
Certain mental health related behaviours can only really be understood in the context of the culture of the patient.
For example, in some cultures it is considered normal to sleep more, work less and hear voices.
This has recently (2015) been recognised in the DSM-V which makes reference to cultural diversity, in that they suggest that panic can be manifested as crying in some cultures, and difficulty breathing in others.
Cultural relativism= beta bias

21. Evaluation Indigenous Psychology Laura Josh Dojan Portia
Bias in research methods
Samantha
Yasmin
Alex
Beza
Habiba
Etic VS Emic distinction
Andi
Gabby
Nawa
Fowse
Louise

22. P E L

23. Typical exam style questions
Outline what is meant by universality and bias in psychological research. (6 marks)
Describe one example of psychological research that demonstrates alpha bias. (4 marks)
Describe one example of psychological research that demonstrates beta bias. ( 4 marks)
‘Psychological theories and studies are criticised for having an alpha or beta bias and, as such, does not represent human behaviour very well.’ Discuss issues related to alpha and beta bias in psychology. Refer to examples of gender bias in your answer. (16 marks)
Typical exam style questions

24. Short Answer Qs
Write- 7 mins
Peer Mark- 7 mins