I&D

• What is cultural bias (2m)

  The tendency to ignore cultural differences and judge all people in terms of your own cultural assumptions. It can occur when researchers conduct research in their own culture and assume that their findings apply to those living in other cultures.
• Explain the term ethnocentrism (2m)

  The assumption that one ethnic group is superior to another or all others, emphasising the importance of the behaviour of ones own group. Other cultures are judged by the standards, customs and values of ones own culture, which is considered the 'norm'.
• Explain the term cultural relativism (2m)

  Idea that a behaviour can only be understood/ makes sense in the context of the norms and values of the society of culture in which it occurs, e.g. what is considered acceptable in one culture may be unacceptable elsewhere.
• Suggest two ways in which researchers might reduce cultural bias in their research.(2m)

  Don't extrapolate findings/theories to cultures that are not represented in the research sample. Use researchers who are familiar with the culture being investigated.
• One example of cultural bias in psychological research (3m)

  Ainsworth's strange situation because the measure reflected only the norms and values of American culture. E.g., secure attachment was characterised by infant showing separation distress. However, this led to the misinterpretation of child-rearing practises in other cultures which were seen to deviate from the American 'norm', e.g. German mother were seen as cold rejecting, rather than encouraging independence for their children and their children were more likely to be classified as insecure-avoidance as result.