Compulsory issues and debates common mistakes

Common mistakes

• Confusing androcentrism with gender bias

  Assuming that androcentrism is simply a bias against women.

  Fix itAndrocentrism is a male‑centred perspective that can marginalise non‑male viewpoints but is not necessarily a bias against women. Gender bias refers to unequal treatment or expectations based on gender.

• Confusing Hard and Soft Determinism

  Students often state that hard determinism allows for free will, or that soft determinism denies determinism.

  Fix itClarify that hard determinism denies free will, while soft determinism accepts determinism but argues that free will can still exist within that framework.

• Confusing heritability with determinism

  Assuming that a high heritability score means a trait is fixed and unchangeable.

  Fix itExplain that heritability reflects variance within a population and does not preclude environmental influence or individual change.

• Confusing Levels of Explanation with Reductionism

  Students often treat the hierarchical levels (biological, psychological, social, cultural) as synonymous with reductionist explanations.

  Fix itClarify that levels of explanation organise the types of causal accounts, while reductionism is a methodological stance that can operate at any level.

• Confusing Idiographic and Nomothetic Approaches

  Students often mix up the definitions and characteristics of idiographic and nomothetic approaches.

  Fix itRemember that idiographic focuses on individual cases, while nomothetic seeks general laws applicable to groups.

• Overlooking Confidentiality

  Assuming that anonymised data automatically protects participants’ identities.

  Fix itResearchers must also consider the possibility of re‑identification through demographic details and implement data‑handling protocols that minimise risk.