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Component 3: Psychology Implications in the Real World - controversies

5 dot points across 5 inquiry questions. Click any dot point for a focused answer with worked past exam questions where available.

Is psychology culturally biased, and can findings from one culture be applied to all people?

Controversy: cultural bias in psychology. Ethnocentrism, the etic-emic distinction and the imposed etic, alpha and beta bias, the WEIRD-sample problem, examples, and how to reduce cultural bias, with a judgement.
An Eduqas A-Level Psychology answer to the controversy of cultural bias. Covers ethnocentrism, the etic-emic distinction and imposed etic, alpha and beta bias, the WEIRD-sample problem, examples such as the Strange Situation, and how to reduce cultural bias, with a judgement for the Implications in the Real World paper.
14 min answer →

Can psychological research that deceives or distresses participants ever be justified, and how should ethics be balanced against scientific value?

Controversy: ethics in psychological research. The conflict between scientific value and participant welfare, with arguments and examples (Milgram, Zimbardo), the role of ethical guidelines and cost-benefit analysis, and a judgement.
An Eduqas A-Level Psychology answer to the controversy of ethics in psychological research. Covers the conflict between scientific value and participant welfare, examples such as Milgram and Zimbardo, ethical guidelines and cost-benefit analysis, and how to reach a judgement on the Implications in the Real World paper.
14 min answer →

Is psychology biased by gender, and how does sexism affect research and its conclusions?

Controversy: gender bias and sexism in psychology. Androcentrism, alpha and beta bias, examples (Freud, all-male samples), the consequences of gender bias, and how to reduce it, with a judgement.
An Eduqas A-Level Psychology answer to the controversy of gender bias and sexism. Covers androcentrism, alpha and beta bias, examples such as Freud and all-male samples, the consequences of gender bias, and how to reduce it, with a judgement for the Implications in the Real World paper.
14 min answer →

Is psychology a science, and should it aspire to be one?

Controversy: the scientific status of psychology. The features of science (objectivity, control, replicability, falsifiability, paradigms), arguments that psychology is and is not a science, the place of different approaches, and a judgement.
An Eduqas A-Level Psychology answer to the controversy of the scientific status of psychology. Covers the features of science (objectivity, control, replicability, falsifiability, paradigms), the arguments that psychology is and is not a science, the contrast between approaches, and how to reach a judgement on the Implications in the Real World paper.
14 min answer →

Is the use of non-human animals in psychological research scientifically and ethically justified?

Controversy: the use of non-human animals in psychological research. Scientific and ethical arguments for and against, the regulations (the 3Rs and the law), and a judgement.
An Eduqas A-Level Psychology answer to the controversy of using non-human animals in research. Covers the scientific and ethical arguments for and against, the 3Rs and legal regulation, examples such as Pavlov and Skinner, and how to reach a judgement on the Implications in the Real World paper.
14 min answer →