ETHICAL COSTS OF RESEARCH Flashcards
(15 cards)
What is meant by the “ethical cost” in psychological research?
The potential harm to participants, such as trauma, deception, lack of consent, or breach of confidentiality.
What are some benefits of psychological research to society and the economy?
Improved understanding, better treatments for illnesses, educational applications, and social interventions.
Name two studies that benefited society despite ethical issues.
Raine et al. (1997) - brain differences in NGRI murderers; Milgram (1961) - obedience and authority.
What was the ethical issue with Harlow’s monkey experiment (1958)?
Monkeys suffered severe emotional harm; lacked consent; questionable relevance to humans.
What is the Double Obligation Dilemma?
Psychologists have responsibilities to both participants (no harm) and society (share knowledge).
Give one scientific benefit and one ethical cost of Milgram’s study.
Benefit: Insight into obedience; Cost: Psychological distress, deception, right to withdraw compromised.
What did Sieber and Stanley (1988) warn about socially sensitive research?
It may unintentionally support prejudice by giving scientific backing to controversial ideas.
What did Loftus claim about false memories in the 1990s?
That repressed memories recovered through psychoanalysis could be false and implanted.
What is one extreme negative consequence of believing behaviour is genetic?
Forced sterilisation of certain individuals to prevent passing on “undesirable” genes.
What are some risk management techniques in psychological research?
Debriefing, informed/retrospective consent, confidentiality, following ethical guidelines.
What role does an ethics committee play in research?
They assess proposed studies to ensure ethical standards are met before the research begins.
What are the four BPS principles of ethical research?
Respect, competence, responsibility, and integrity.
Why might BPS guidelines not always prevent unethical research?
They are guidelines, not laws—there are no legal punishments for breaching them.
What is Aronson’s (1992) view on evaluating ethical research?
Use a cost-benefit analysis to weigh potential harm against the value of findings.
What was Baumrind’s (1975) criticism of cost-benefit analysis in research?
It legitimises unethical methods, as participants often don’t benefit from the research.
