Issues & debates
• the applica0on of psychology to everyday life
• individual and situa0onal explana0ons
• nature versus nurture
• the use of children in psychological research
• cultural differences
• reduc0onism versus holism (treatment e0ology fallacy → more of an explana0ons thing)
Reduc0onist approach is not always bad. Especially for clinical psych where a
mul0disciplinary/perspec0ve approach is needed to understand disorders such as
schizophrenia and bipolar disorder
• determinism versus free-will
• idiographic versus nomothe0c
Not wriEen in the syllabus but in the eg essays:
- reliability
- validity
- usefulness of the…..
- case studies
- longitudinal studies
- psychometrics (talk abt the items, ra0ng scale, quan0 & quali, obj & sub, validity, reliability,
applica0on)
Evalua0ng studies on their reliability
1. Review the methodology (sample size, sample, selec0on criteria, biases, limita0ons
2. Examine if the research can be reproduced/replicated
3. Consider confounding variables
4. Assess the conclusion, evaluate conclusions drawn in light of the results/evidence shown
(does the data support the conclusion? Are there any alterna0ve explana0ons for the
findings?)
Evalua0on
1. Claim
2. Reason
3. Evidence
4. Evalua0ve comment
5. Counter-argument (e.g. reduc0onist but it allows researchers to clearly understand that
specific explana0on?? Need to use mul0-disciplinary approach) 6. Conclusion
,Organisa0onal Psychology
Mo8va8on to work
Need theories
Cultural bias (ethnocentric bias)
- Theory was devised from his analysis of various successful, self-actualised individuals such
as
Einstein…who were all white, who were of certain religions (Judaism, Chris0an etc.)
- E.g. The concept of self-actualisa0on relate to the Chris0an beliefs that we’re all special
beings created by a higher being
- Need for affilia0on and power is very individualis0c while the need for affilia0on is very
collec0vist
- Counter-argument: Maslow actually also derived his theory from the Blackfeet tribe in
America, an indigenous group. This community believes that all humans have things we are
special at and that we have the poten0al to fulfill it and that’s our purpose in life? So
technically the theories may not be culturally biased cuz it’s very different from Chris0an
beliefs
- However, the theories can s0ll be culturally biased as it does not consider all the other
cultures around the globe
• NOT culturally bias
• Universal assumption that everyone does need to get their lower order needs fulfilled
before moving to the higher order needs
• We need money to survive, fulfil basic needs and feel secure
• Universal human desire to feel connected to others and to self-actualise
• Culturally bias
• Does not take into account cultural differences
• Collectivist cultures such as China may have a different meaning for self-actualisation than
individualistic cultures such as the USA
• Love and belongingness may be more prevalent in collectivistic cultures compared to
esteem needs, opposite for individualistic cultures
• Hence, love and belongingness may be considered higher-order rather than esteem needs
[application to everyday life]
• Made a large contribution to organizational psychology and increasing motivation in
workplace
• Employers can use theory to ensure workers feel safe and have stable wage, so more
motivated
• Employers should aim to satisfy each level of needs
• Physiological: provide breaks, safeguard worker’s health
Safety: enhance work safety
Social: organize social activity for workforce
Esteem: provide incentives
, Self-actualisation: assign tasks that fit well into worker’s interest and potential, allow
progression for workers
[reductionism vs holism]
• Reductionist as theory assumes everyone has to go through the hierarchy in step-by-step
fashion
• In real life, some people may satisfy higher order needs before lower order needs
• Or satisfy higher order needs without having the desire to satisfy lower order needs
• Example: a paramedic with low pay may still feel highly motivated to work as it satisfies
their social and esteem needs
• More holistic than other theories
• States that it is not just physiological needs that are important in motivation but also
psychological needs such as self-esteem and belongingness
• More complete theory that takes a number of factors into account when looking at
motivation
[determinism versus free will]
• Firmly on free will side of the debate
• Free will necessary in order to have the ability to self-actualise
• Example: if cannot meet your basic physiological needs through work then you have a
choice to look for another job and leave
• Our behaviour/motivation is still to some extent determined by external forces outside of
our control such as lack of ability to find another job
SAEEDNIA (2011)
[generalizability]
• Low generalizability
• Sample of only young children
• BNSS may only be suitable to assess Maslow’s needs in children population and not on
adult working population
• Consisted of people from Tehran, a region of Iran which is wealthier
• Assumed that basic physiological and safety needs have already been achieved
[validity]
• Limited ability of children to express themselves fully reduce validity
• Ensure results were correct by interviewing family and educators
[reliability]
• Quantitiative data reliably obtained when researching Maslow’s hierarchy of needs
• Use of qualitative approach in initial development of BNSS questionnaire
• Allows researcher to find out deeper about peoples’ desires and analyze the people’s
needs based on each individual notions
MCCLELLAND’S THEORY OF ACHIEVEMENT MOTIVATION
[cultural bias]
• Culturally biased
• Does not take into account gender and cultural differences
• the applica0on of psychology to everyday life
• individual and situa0onal explana0ons
• nature versus nurture
• the use of children in psychological research
• cultural differences
• reduc0onism versus holism (treatment e0ology fallacy → more of an explana0ons thing)
Reduc0onist approach is not always bad. Especially for clinical psych where a
mul0disciplinary/perspec0ve approach is needed to understand disorders such as
schizophrenia and bipolar disorder
• determinism versus free-will
• idiographic versus nomothe0c
Not wriEen in the syllabus but in the eg essays:
- reliability
- validity
- usefulness of the…..
- case studies
- longitudinal studies
- psychometrics (talk abt the items, ra0ng scale, quan0 & quali, obj & sub, validity, reliability,
applica0on)
Evalua0ng studies on their reliability
1. Review the methodology (sample size, sample, selec0on criteria, biases, limita0ons
2. Examine if the research can be reproduced/replicated
3. Consider confounding variables
4. Assess the conclusion, evaluate conclusions drawn in light of the results/evidence shown
(does the data support the conclusion? Are there any alterna0ve explana0ons for the
findings?)
Evalua0on
1. Claim
2. Reason
3. Evidence
4. Evalua0ve comment
5. Counter-argument (e.g. reduc0onist but it allows researchers to clearly understand that
specific explana0on?? Need to use mul0-disciplinary approach) 6. Conclusion
,Organisa0onal Psychology
Mo8va8on to work
Need theories
Cultural bias (ethnocentric bias)
- Theory was devised from his analysis of various successful, self-actualised individuals such
as
Einstein…who were all white, who were of certain religions (Judaism, Chris0an etc.)
- E.g. The concept of self-actualisa0on relate to the Chris0an beliefs that we’re all special
beings created by a higher being
- Need for affilia0on and power is very individualis0c while the need for affilia0on is very
collec0vist
- Counter-argument: Maslow actually also derived his theory from the Blackfeet tribe in
America, an indigenous group. This community believes that all humans have things we are
special at and that we have the poten0al to fulfill it and that’s our purpose in life? So
technically the theories may not be culturally biased cuz it’s very different from Chris0an
beliefs
- However, the theories can s0ll be culturally biased as it does not consider all the other
cultures around the globe
• NOT culturally bias
• Universal assumption that everyone does need to get their lower order needs fulfilled
before moving to the higher order needs
• We need money to survive, fulfil basic needs and feel secure
• Universal human desire to feel connected to others and to self-actualise
• Culturally bias
• Does not take into account cultural differences
• Collectivist cultures such as China may have a different meaning for self-actualisation than
individualistic cultures such as the USA
• Love and belongingness may be more prevalent in collectivistic cultures compared to
esteem needs, opposite for individualistic cultures
• Hence, love and belongingness may be considered higher-order rather than esteem needs
[application to everyday life]
• Made a large contribution to organizational psychology and increasing motivation in
workplace
• Employers can use theory to ensure workers feel safe and have stable wage, so more
motivated
• Employers should aim to satisfy each level of needs
• Physiological: provide breaks, safeguard worker’s health
Safety: enhance work safety
Social: organize social activity for workforce
Esteem: provide incentives
, Self-actualisation: assign tasks that fit well into worker’s interest and potential, allow
progression for workers
[reductionism vs holism]
• Reductionist as theory assumes everyone has to go through the hierarchy in step-by-step
fashion
• In real life, some people may satisfy higher order needs before lower order needs
• Or satisfy higher order needs without having the desire to satisfy lower order needs
• Example: a paramedic with low pay may still feel highly motivated to work as it satisfies
their social and esteem needs
• More holistic than other theories
• States that it is not just physiological needs that are important in motivation but also
psychological needs such as self-esteem and belongingness
• More complete theory that takes a number of factors into account when looking at
motivation
[determinism versus free will]
• Firmly on free will side of the debate
• Free will necessary in order to have the ability to self-actualise
• Example: if cannot meet your basic physiological needs through work then you have a
choice to look for another job and leave
• Our behaviour/motivation is still to some extent determined by external forces outside of
our control such as lack of ability to find another job
SAEEDNIA (2011)
[generalizability]
• Low generalizability
• Sample of only young children
• BNSS may only be suitable to assess Maslow’s needs in children population and not on
adult working population
• Consisted of people from Tehran, a region of Iran which is wealthier
• Assumed that basic physiological and safety needs have already been achieved
[validity]
• Limited ability of children to express themselves fully reduce validity
• Ensure results were correct by interviewing family and educators
[reliability]
• Quantitiative data reliably obtained when researching Maslow’s hierarchy of needs
• Use of qualitative approach in initial development of BNSS questionnaire
• Allows researcher to find out deeper about peoples’ desires and analyze the people’s
needs based on each individual notions
MCCLELLAND’S THEORY OF ACHIEVEMENT MOTIVATION
[cultural bias]
• Culturally biased
• Does not take into account gender and cultural differences
