1

Psychology 320: Gender Psychology

Lecture 6

2

Psychology Students Association (PSA)Joining if you are curious about…What you can do with your degreeInformation on graduate school in psychologyMeeting fellow psych majors…and more!

It’s easy to join!$10 by yourself or bring a buddy to get $8 each

Leadership positions available!Public relations, Editor of a new Psych newsletter and much more!

Find us at the SUB this week:September 22-23 from 10A – 5PSeptember 24 from 10A – 2P

More information?http://www2.psych.ubc.ca/~psa/Dr. Souza (souza@psych.ubc.ca)

PSA reps (psa@psych.ubc.ca)

3

13507074

36165082

42209080

65446064

94901071

Invitational Office Hour Invitations, by Student Number for September 24th

11:00-12:00, Arts 200 Café; 3:30-4:30 Kenny 2517

4

From a classmate ….

Youtube clip demonstrating gender variance:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTa_UHf2Yoo

5

Research Methods

2. What sources of bias do psychologists encounter when conducting research on gender?

1. What research methods do psychologists use to study gender? (continued)

6

By the end of today’s class, you should be able to:

1. apply your understanding of research methods to distinct hypotheses.

2. identify sources of researcher-related bias in gender psychology.

7

What research methods do psychologists use to study gender? (continued)

Exercise in the application of research methods:

Experimental studiesQuasi-experimental studiesCorrelational studiesCase studiesMeta-analytic studies

8

Correlational study.

Hypothesis Ideal Research Method

Male homosexual relationships are characterized by less violence than heterosexual relationships.

Quasi-experimental study.

Adults smile more frequently when interacting with female infants than male infants.

Experimental study.

High testosterone levels are associated with high levels of aggression.

9

Meta-analytic study.

Hypothesis Ideal Research Method

The Hirjas who reside in the village of Koovagam in India are treated with unique reverence by other villagers.

Case study.

Girls who suffer from ADHD exhibit less hyperactivity and impulsiveness than boys who suffer from ADHD.

Quasi-experimental study.

Past research on temperament demonstrates a consistent gender difference in levels of extraversion.

10

What sources of bias do psychologists encounter when conducting research on gender?

One-Minute Paper: At what stage(s) of the research process may gender-related biases occur?

“When formulating a theory, gender bias may largely come into play. This may affect what you choose to research ….”

“Researchers may use biased theories—theories that discriminate against one sex or the other. Psychoanalytic theory is an example of a theory that discriminates against females.”

11

“[An] … area that’s probably quite prone to bias is the operationalization section. For example, if your theory is on athletic ability and you choose distance a ball is thrown as your measure … men on average will throw the ball further but it doesn’t necessarily mean that they are better athletes.”

“Which participants one chooses can alter the situation. Even how one addresses the subjects is a large source of bias and the wording of questions .... Researchers may unconsciously look for evidence only supporting their hypothesis.”

12

“… the researcher may treat participants differently according their gender. For instance, the researcher might imply to female participants that women are poorer than men at math tasks. Then the female participants are likely to do poor on such a task, fulfilling the erroneous belief.”

“The researcher’s biases affect what measures he/she chooses to operationalize … as well as the interpretation of data (subconsciously emphasizing results that support biases or de-emphasizing those that do not).”

13

“ … the researcher will interpret (results/data) in a way that might favor their own expectations.”

“Most susceptible to bias at the stage of drawing conclusions, where the researcher’s bias can cause small gender differences to be weighted too heavily and interpreted as being more significant than it is.”

“Participants may act in the experiment according to how they believe it is appropriate to act according to social convention, such as in role-play/questionnaire scenarios, and these biases … influence the data taken and conclusions drawn.”

14

“ … gender related bias can occur in the way in which other people … interpret the findings of the research. Results may be misunderstood or misinterpreted based on people’s individual gender biases.”

“ … when the data are collected, the analysis may be biased and differences between sexes may be highlighted instead of similarities. Due to media interests and public interests, publication companies may be in favor of publishing and covering results and findings that highlight differences.”

15

• Researcher effects:

Researchers may introduce biases into gender-related research at all stages of the research process:

• At all stages of the research process, gender-related biases may occur.

16

Theory

Hypothesis

Operationalization

Research

Data

Biased selection of research topics, biased theories and hypotheses.

Biased selection of participants, variables confounded with gender, biased operationalizations, inconsistent behaviour with male and female participants.

Biased interpretation of behaviour, publication of gender differences vs. similarities, publication of findings that support political agendas.

17

Research Methods

2. What sources of bias do psychologists encounter when conducting research on gender?

1. What research methods do psychologists use to study gender? (continued)