Introduction
Psychology refers to a scholarly and applied subject that entails the scientific learning of rational roles and behaviors. It is of great concern to note that gender biases have continued to dominate most aspects of psychological research. Despite the various criticisms and efforts that have been placed to eliminate this problem, it is now clear that psychologists have failed in their efforts to eliminate gender biases in their research agendas (Rick, 1). Consequently, this raises important questions about the psychology discipline, especially with reference to its approach towards gender differences. As a result, this outwardly indicates that this is an area that requires more critical thinking on the gender concept (Rick, 1).
What do you think of the fact that a profound gender bias continues to exist in psychological research? How do you feel about that?
I think that the failure of the psychology discipline to eliminate gender biases in its research is itself an indication of a failure and major weakness in the discipline. Notably, I think that psychologists have largely contributed to the large gender differences and stereotypes which are experienced in most societies today. This is because most of the psychology researchers have formed a habit of comparing one gender character against an implied standard of the alternative gender, rather than analyzing the different genders separately (Rick, 1). Notably, this has been common in reference to the female gender. At most times, psychologists have tended to compare female behavior against an implied male norm. Because of this, males have come to be seen as the measure for the representative human subject in most contemporary societies. This has also influenced upcoming researchers in the psychology discipline, who tend to follow the same trend as their predecessors.
I feel that such an approach taken by psychologists is gender bias and not appropriate in any research. This is because it results to outcomes that are not fair; hence require not to be applied in the public’s interests. I feel that if no changes are made in the mode of conducting research in the psychology discipline, it may be difficult to change the various gender stereotypes held by most societies today. I however feel that it is imperative for psychologists to have a more detailed consideration in the manner in which they utterly formulate questions regarding which gender’s behavior is used as the default standard model for comparison. In the same way, care should be applied in choosing the gender that should be made the focus of psychological analysis. This will enable psychologists to study group differences with the best approach, and provide research that best suits the public interests.
Does knowing that psychology has tried, but failed, to deal with gender bias make you more or less confident in the findings of psychology?
Knowing that psychology as a discipline has been unable to eliminate gender biases especially in its research, has made me less confident in the discoveries of the discipline. I think that good research should provide values, methodologies and practices which keep analysis in line with objectives, which are bias free and represent the truth. Conversely, I do not find these values in most psychological researches. Instead, I think that the psychology discipline has continued to display gender issues in a very bias way, where a single gender is used as a standard comparison for the other gender. Owing to these weaknesses, I find the findings of psychology researches unfair and unfit to be applied in public contexts. Consequently, I do not have faith in the findings of psychological researches.
Reference
Rick Nauert, Male Gender Bias in Psychological Research Continues, Psychology News. (December 2006). Retrieved from:
http://psychcentral.com/news/2006/12/29/male-gender-bias-in-psychology-research-continues/
