| Abstract: | Examined 2 ideological perspectives (one assuming that the sexes differ, with females basically inferior to males, and the other assuming that any differences are the result of differential social learning) in the context of 3 bodies of literature—sex differences, sex-role stereotyping in therapy, and androgyny. Data in support of each ideological position are presented. The reactivity of psychological data to these theory orientations is explored, and it is hypothesized that prevailing ideologies produce supporting empiricism. Thus, it is argued that the major source of variance in psychological research is less a result of the manipulation of independent variables than it is a function of the ideological substructure underlying the research. Also determined are the alternative criteria that might be employed to assess the relative merits of competing ideological frameworks if the validity of an ideology cannot be established empirically. (French abstract) (58 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved) |
