History of Psychology of Gender Quiz

5 Questions

Explain the historical developments in the psychology of gender from 1894 to the present day.

The historical developments in the psychology of gender include the study of sex differences in intelligence (1894-1936), the exploration of masculinity-femininity as a global personality trait (1936-1954), the focus on sex typing and androgyny (1954-1982), and the examination of gender role as a social category (1982-present).

Discuss the methods used in gender research, including the scientific method and meta-analysis.

The methods used in gender research include the scientific method, experimental method, correlational study, and meta-analysis. The scientific method involves systematic observation, measurement, and experimentation to formulate and test hypotheses. Meta-analysis involves combining and analyzing data from multiple studies to draw overarching conclusions.

Identify and explain two difficulties in conducting gender research.

Two difficulties in conducting gender research are the experimenter effect, which occurs when the researcher's expectations or biases influence the results, and the participant effect, which involves participants altering their behavior due to being observed or taking part in a study.

What are the key considerations in qualitative inquiry, and how do they impact research?

Key considerations in qualitative inquiry include insider/outsider perspectives, experiential research, and critical research. These impact research by influencing the researcher's positionality, the depth of understanding of individual experiences, and the potential for social change and advocacy.

After reading this unit, what will the learners be able to do?

After reading this unit, learners will be able to explain the historical developments in the psychology of gender, discuss the methods used in gender research, identify and explain difficulties in conducting gender research, understand the key considerations in qualitative inquiry, and summarize the key points covered in the unit.

Study Notes

Historical Developments in Psychology of Gender

1894: Psychology of gender research began, focusing on sex differences and similarities
Early 20th century: Research shifted to social and cultural influences on gender
Mid-20th century: Psychoanalytic theories of gender development emerged
Late 20th century: Gender role theory and gender schema theory were developed
Present day: Research focuses on intersections of gender with other social categories

Methods in Gender Research

Scientific method: Objective, systematic, and empirical approach to research
- Formulation of hypotheses and testing through experimentation
Meta-analysis: Statistical method to synthesize and compare results across studies
- Enables identification of trends and patterns in research findings

Difficulties in Conducting Gender Research

Difficulty 1: operationalizing gender
- Defining and measuring gender in a way that captures its complexity
- Risk of oversimplifying or stereotyping gender
Difficulty 2: avoiding researcher bias
- Researchers' own gender biases and assumptions can influence findings
- Importance of acknowledging and addressing biases in research design

Key Considerations in Qualitative Inquiry

Contextualizing gender: Considering the social, cultural, and historical context of gender
- Impact of power dynamics, privilege, and oppression on gender experiences
Reflexivity: Acknowledging and addressing the researcher's own positionality and biases
- Impact on data collection, analysis, and interpretation

Learner Outcomes

Identify key historical developments in the psychology of gender
Explain methods used in gender research, including the scientific method and meta-analysis
Recognize difficulties in conducting gender research and strategies to overcome them
Apply key considerations in qualitative inquiry to gender research