Sex, Gender & Sex-role Stereotypes (AQA A Level Psychology)

Researchers wished to study the link between androgyny and psychological health. They surveyed a stratified sample of 100 18-year-old students from four different schools.

Some schools had a large number of students and others had a smaller number of students. The students were asked to rate themselves on an androgyny scale and then answered a series of questions. The questions focused on students’ self-esteem and how they felt about their relationships with others.

Explain how the researchers could have obtained a stratified sample from the four different schools.

At the end of the survey, the researchers wished to treat the students ethically. They used the following statement in their debriefing:

‘Thank you for taking part in the survey. Your data will be very useful. Have you any questions?’

Suggest two additional points that could be added to the debriefing statement to better ensure ethical treatment of the students.

In a study of sex-role stereotypes and the understanding of gender, a psychology student used a group of 7-year-old children. Each child was shown two pictures.

• Picture 1 showed people carrying out sex-stereotypical activities.

• Picture 2 showed people carrying out non-sex-stereotypical activities.

The student asked the children to say how much they liked each picture on a scale of 1–10.

The student decided to test for a significant difference between the judgements of the two pictures. He proposed using an unrelated t-test to analyse the data.

Suggest a more appropriate statistical test of difference for the student to use with this data.

Explain two reasons for your choice based on the description of the study.

Researchers wished to study the link between androgyny and psychological health. They surveyed a stratified sample of 100 18-year-old students from four different schools.

Some schools had a large number of students and others had a smaller number of students. The students were asked to rate themselves on an androgyny scale and then answered a series of questions. The questions focused on students’ self-esteem and how they felt about their relationships with others.

Discuss Bem’s research into androgyny. Refer to the likely findings of the study above in your answer.

In a study of sex-role stereotypes and the understanding of gender, a psychology student used a group of 7-year-old children. Each child was shown two pictures.

• Picture 1 showed people carrying out sex-stereotypical activities.

• Picture 2 showed people carrying out non-sex-stereotypical activities.

The student asked the children to say how much they liked each picture on a scale of 1–10.

The student decided to test for a significant difference between the judgements of the two pictures. He proposed using an unrelated t-test to analyse the data.

Discuss sex-role stereotypes. Refer to the likely outcome of the student’s study in your answer.

Outline Bem’s research into androgyny.

Explain one or more limitation(s) of Bem’s research.