Evaluation of Gender Bias

P - One strength is that an understanding of gender bias has led to reflexivity

E - This is when researchers recognise the effect their own values have on their work

They embrace bias as an important aspect of the research process rather than seeing it as a problem which threatens the objective status of their work

A - While reviewing studies in relation to the lack of women in executive positions in accountancy firms, Dambrin and Lambert includes reflection on how their gender related experiences influence their reading of the events

K - Such reflexivity is an important development in psychology and may lead to greater awareness of the role of personal bias in shaping future research

P - A strength is that feminist psychologists propose how gender bias can be avoided

E - Feminist psychology is a branch of psychology that aims to readress the imbalances in theory and research

They agree that there are biological differences between men + women but argue it’s social stereotypes which make a greater contribution to perceived differences

A - They suggest that we should use evidence which proposes women are ‘inferior’ to provide women with support

For example, the claim that women may be less effective leaders

This knowledge should be used to develop suitable training programmes + therefore create a future with more women as leaders

K - This demonstrates how feminist psychology seeks to understand behaviour in terms of social processes and thus find a way to greater equality

P - One limitation is that there are problems of gender bias in psychological research

E - Research challenging gender biases may not be published

For man owicz et al. analysed over 1000 articles relating to gender bias

They found that research on gender bias is funded less often and is also published in less prestigious journals

A - Furthermore, this finding still was true when gender bias was compared against other forms of bias such as ethnic bias and when other factors was controlled

K - Gender bias in research is not just a methodological problem but may have damaging consequences as it is not taken as seriously as other forms of bias

P - Another limitation is that gender bias promotes sexism in the research process

E - Women remain underrepresented in university departments

Despite Psychology’s undergraduate intake is mainly female, lecturers in psychology are more likely to be male

Meaning that male researchers are also more likely to have work published and that female concerns may not be reflected in research questions

A - Furthermore, female ppts in studies are in an inequitable relationship with usually a male researcher who has the power to label them irrational + unable to complete complex tasks

K - This means psychology may be guilty of supporting a form of institutional sexism that creates bias in both theory + research