Ethical implications + Social sensitivity Flashcards

1
Q

ethical guidelines

A

= refer to correct rules of conduct necessary when carrying out research outlined by BPS or APA in psychology

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2
Q

ethical issues

A

= brings systems of morality + principles into conflict

– e.g. deception of ppts

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3
Q

ethical implications

A

= the impacts or consequences of psych research or theory on the rights of the ppts taking part + other people in wider context + may be societal implications

– applies to a theory or research

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4
Q

social sensitivity

A

= Sieber + Stanley used term to describe studies where there are potential social consequences or implications for ppts, the group of people represented by or related to the research

– particular to a study

– social consequences only

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5
Q

social sensitivity exam question defintion…

A

– where the topic area +/or group studied can have implications for society/certain groups in society - potentially leading to a change in or justification for the way these groups are treated/perceived

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6
Q

who is affected by research?

A

– ppts - affected directly by taking part in research e.g. suffering due to lack of protection from harm

– public - influenced by the publication of psychological findings e.g. reinforcement of stereotypes

– groups studied - may suffer bias or discrimination due to public awareness of harmful research or self fulfilling prophecies

– government bodies - may use psychological findings to develop policies + legislation that are not in interest of researched group e.g. reduced funding

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7
Q

ethical implications - research studies - Milgram…

A

…several ethical issues - ppts highly deceived + unable to give fully informed consent

– research methodology caused distress + ppts felt they couldn’t withdraw

– ppts debriefed after + has follow up interviews but results may have affected ppts as they may have found fact that they obeyed authority w/ potential to cause harm to another difficult to accept

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8
Q

ethical implications - research studies - Zimbardo…

A

…criticised for being highly unethical due to distress caused

– observable psychological harm experienced so extreme to extent the research had to be stopped early - distress presented by both prisoners + guards due to abuse they subjected prisoners to

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9
Q

ethical implications - theories - Bowlby summary + impact on women + men…

A

…theory of attachment + monotropy suggests children form one special bond usually w/ mother - attachment must also be formed w/in critical period - also suggested this can form an internal working model for future relationships

– argues women’s role is to be primary CG which may make women feel guilty for wanting to or returning to work

– can also have implications on father who may be discouraged to be CG or may cause single parent fathers concern over their ability to form attachments

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10
Q

reflexivity…

A

the act of examining one’s own assumption, belief, and judgement systems, and thinking carefully and critically about how these influence the research process

– to improve research, researchers must maintain reflexivity

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11
Q

social sensitivity - factors to be considered…

A

…1. Research Q
2. Methodology used
3. Institutional context
4. Interpretation + application of findings

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12
Q

social sensitivity - research Q…

A

…researcher must consider research Q carefully so they are not damaging to members of a particular group e.g. “are there racial differences in IQ” or “is intelligence inherited?”

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13
Q

social sensitivity - methodology used…

A

…needs to consider treatment of ppts + their right to confidentiality + anonymity e.g. if they admit to committing crime or having unprotected sex w/ HIV should researcher maintain confidentiality?

– research should be submitted to ethics committee to review the costs + benefits prior to implementation

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14
Q

social sensitivity - institutional context…

A

…should be mindful of how data is going to be used + consider who is funding research - if funded by private institution or organisation, why are they funding + how do they intend to use findings?

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15
Q

social sensitivity - interpretation + application…

A

…needs to consider how findings might be interpreted + applied in real world

– needs to avoid prejudice or sensational media presentation by ensuring conclusions are objectively outlined + clearly clarified (e.g. through peer review)

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16
Q

social sensitivity - forensics summary…

A

…Raine et al - brain scans of violent criminals to examine levels of impulse control - found damage to most areas of brains, focused around frontal lobe implicated in impulse control

17
Q

social sensitivity - Raine SS…

A

…can be seen as SS as findings may be interpreted in way that suggests children should have brain scans to identify predisposition for offending behaviour

– children, family + society might feel unease as to what to do w/ this knowledge of predisposition - could lead to support for genetic engineering to avoid criminal genes being transmitted - highly SS

– could also have legal implications as theory supports determinist view that indiv not seen as culpable in criminal act + violent crimes could thus not lead to convictions

18
Q

early history of intelligence - Yerkes…

A

…Army Alpha + Beta tests during WW1 aimed to measure native intellectual ability + were used to assign roles w/ those more intelligent being given more senior roles

– data was manipulated + converted to look for racial + national averages

– analysis of data led to conclusions that supported eugenicist beliefs + influenced discriminatory policies e.g. the Immigration Restriction Act 1929

19
Q

how to deal w/ it…

A

– submit research proposals to the ethics committee for peer review

– Does the end justify the means?

– Take steps to avoid prejudice and think about the presentation of your findings

– Be alert to the possible misuse of findings

20
Q

Ao3 - implications of unethical research…

A

…and how researchers have dealt with this

21
Q

Ao3 - cost benefit discussions…

A

…including short term costs vs long term gain + whether they are effective to hold in the first place

– the costs of research may only become clear years after publication (e.g. Yerkes) so the initial cost benefit analysis isn’t always likely to be effective - also some may have short term costs (attachment theories) but long term benefits (changes to flexible working)

22
Q

Ao3 - consider the risks of not conducting research due to fear of social sensitivity…

A

…issues like sexuality or gender are generally considered highly socially sensitive areas of investigation - however if we avoid this these groups will remain unstudied in an objective way, 95% of non-sensitive proposals are approved but ‘sensitive’ proposals are only approved 50% of the time

– potentially studying this could reduce prejudice and
misconceptions in society e.g. EWT reduces miscarriages of justice, role
of the father and paternity leave

23
Q

8 marker plan - outline what social sensitivity means in the context of psychology - explain how researchers in psychology could deal w/ issues related to social sensitivity

A

Ao1 = definitions + consider examples

Ao3 =
– cost/benefit
– consider research Qs wording + methodology - how ppts treated etc
– consider institutional context + how data is used etc
– peer review + ethics board

24
Q

8 marker plan - discuss one or more ethical implications of research in psychology - refer to at least one topic you have studied in psychology…

A

Ao1 = ethical implications on ppts/individual in research
– affect groups being studied e.g. bias/stereotypes
– government policies or discriminatory laws

Ao2 = groups - Bowlby - mothers + law of accumulated separation - reinforce stereotypes
– individual - Zimbardo - no right to withdraw or protection from harm

Ao3 = socially sensitive less likely to be accepted - 95% non sensitive + 50 % sensitive

– reflexivity would reduce EIs in Zimbardo’s study

– cost benefit analysis