issues and debates

• what is parsimony?


  the argument that the best explanation is the simplest one
• what is reductionism?


  studying complex events by breaking them down into simple components and testing them
• biological reductionism


  argues complex human behaviour is due to basic biological elements
• environmental reductionism

  conditioning explains behaviour as due to the result of simple stimulus response mechanisms
• machine reductionism


  computer analogy that the brain functions like a computer , working memory model is an example
• holism


  a valid explanation of behaviour must include all experiences and factors influencing behaviour and how they interact and influence each other
• levels of explanation


  a spectrum from reductionist to holistic
• reductionism evaluation

  pros = scientific , causation , empirical testing

  cons = simplistic , does not account human experience
• holism evaluations

  pros = therapeutic approaches , lots of validity

  cons = no causation , might overlook elements
• define ethnocentrism ?


  evaluating cultures using your own as a standard creating bias
• define idiographic?


  focuses on individual experiences and cases studies
• define nomothetic?


  General laws or principles.
• what is meant by cultural relativism?


  Understanding and judging a culture based on its own values and beliefs.
• what is beta bias?

  Beta bias refers to the tendency to downplay or ignore differences between males and females in research or theories.
• what is alpha bias?


  Exaggerating differences between groups.
• what is androcentrism ?


  Male-centered worldview.
• what can socially sensitive research lead to?

  positively better understanding from the population

  negatively unfair treatment and prejudice
• what are some ethical guidelines?


  right to withdraw , protection from harm , informed consent , deception