exam questions

• How to reduce cultural bias

  do not attempt to extrapolate findings to cultures that are not represented in the

  research sample

  • use researchers who are native to the culture being investigated

  • carry out cross-cultural research rather than research with a sole culture

  • do not assume universal norms/standards across different cultures

  • study single culture to understand that culture (emic approach)
• Using an example of a research study you have learned about in psychology, outline what is meant by a nomothetic approach to psychological investigation. [4 marks]

  a nomothetic approach involves studying a (large) sample of participants

  • using the findings to generate general laws of behaviour

  Milgram tested a sample of participants to propose his theory of situational obedience
• how might behaviour be studied using an idiographic approach to psychological investigation.

  case study method
• Determinism

  Understanding that behaviour is controlled and we do not exercise free will over our own behaviour
• Types of determinism

  • Biological determinism
  • Environmental determinism
  • Psychic determinism
• Biological determinism

  Behaviour is controlled by aspects of biology eg genes, chemicals etc
• Biological determinism


  • Depression 'runs in families'
• Environmental determinism

  Behaviour is controlled by external influences eg parents, society etc
• Briefly outline one problem associated with alpha bias in psychological research, and one problem associated with beta bias in psychological research.

  In the case of alpha bias there is a misrepresentation of behaviour researchers exaggerate gender differences

  • In the case of beta bias there is a misrepresentation of behaviour because researchers underestimate and minimise gender differences