ethical implications Flashcards
(15 cards)
ethical implications
impact that psychological research can have on pps or wider society in general.
socially sensitive research
studies that have consequences or implications on pps or members of wider society
- The six ethical guidelines were obviously created to keep pps (and psychologists) safe whilst carrying out research.
- Despite this safeguarding, research can still have a negative social impact on people at various levels (within the study or wider consequences of the results and social policy) after it has been carried out or published.
- Psychologists do have control over their individual research projects however the control stops once the paper has been sent off for peer review/publication. (think about damage that could be done before it gets sent off)
- Psychologists have no control over how their findings are represented in the media, impact of their work on public policy and how it may (negatively) influence public perception of particular groups in our society.
Socially sensitive research
Sieber and Stanley (1988) define social sensitivity as:
- Some areas of study in psychology are likely to be more controversial than others, and it is these areas that are thought to be more socially sensitive.
- Socially sensitive research often confronts taboo topics, such as aspects of race, sexuality.
- They attract a lot of attention from other psychologists, but also from the media and general public at large.
- However, just because research is socially sensitive does not mean it should not be conducted. Aronson, 1999, states psychologists have a ‘social responsibility’ to conduct socially sensitive research.
Ethical issues in socially sensitive research:
Sieber and Stanley (1988) identified four aspects in the scientific research process that raise ethical implications in socially sensitive research:
- The research question
- The methodology used
- The institutional context
- Interpretation and application of findings
A02 The research question
- The researcher must consider their research question carefully.
- Asking questions like ‘Are there racial differences in IQ?’ or ‘Is intelligence inherited?’ may be damaging to members of a particular group.
A02 The methodology used
- The researcher needs to consider the treatment of the participant’s and their right to confidentiality and anonymity.
- E.g. if someone admits to committing a crime, or to having unprotected sex if they are HIV positive, should the researcher maintain confidentiality?
A02 The Institutional Context
- The researcher should be mindful of how the data is going to be used and consider who is funding the research.
- If the research is funded by a private institution or organisation, why are they funding the research and how do they intend to use the findings?
A02 Interpretation and Application of Findings
- Finally, the researcher needs to consider how their findings might be interpreted and applied in the real-world.
- Could the findings be used by the Government for political means to develop public policy? If this happens, are there any risks (i.e. will it lead to discrimination or prejudice?)
A03 +ves of socially sensitive Research
- Scarr (1988) argues that studies of under-represented groups and issues may promote greater understanding to help reduce prejudice and encourage acceptance
- Socially sensitive research can benefit society as a whole
- E.g, research into unreliability of EWT has reduced the risk of miscarriages of justice within the legal system
- Suggests that socially sensitive research may play a valuable role in society
A03 -ve Framing the question
- Sieber and Stanley (1988) warn that how research questions are phrased and investigated may influence the ways findings are interpreted
- E.g. research into ‘alternative relationships’ has been guilty of a heterosexual bias in that homosexual relationships have been judged against heterosexual norms
- Suggest that investigators must approach their research with an open mind and be prepared to have their preconceptions challenged to avoid misrepresenting minority groups
A03 -ve potential damage of socially sensitive Research
- 100 years now extremely socially sensitive research has been carried out on whether race & IQ are linked.
- Began in 1917 with a psychologist called Goddard giving IQ tests to immigrants when they landed on US soil and claiming that Russians, Jews, Hungarians and Italians were “feeble minded” and in 1994, “The Bell Curve” was published by psychologists still claiming that intelligence & race are linked.
- These claims could have disastrous consequences at a societal level (become a self-fulfilling prophecy).
A03 –ve Data may be used for social control
- To take the previous evaluation point a step further, the fact that socially sensitive research has been used to ‘prop up’ discriminatory practices in the past is an argument against its widespread adoption.
- Because of Goddard’s research in the USA in the 1920s and 30s a number of US states enacted legislation that led to the compulsory sterilisation of many citizens on the grounds that “scientists had discovered they were feeble-minded”!!!!
A03 –ve outcomes are difficult to predict
- Although potential research is scrutinised by an ethics committee, some of the consequences of research involving vulnerable groups might be difficult to anticipate
- Assessments of the ‘worth’ of such research are typically subjective and the real impact of the research can only ever be known once it has been published.
- This means that unfortunately SS research will always carry a certain risk- the consequences of the research reaching the Media/public realm are impossible to predict.
Examples of socially sensitive research in psychology
- Goddard - IQ tests
- Bowlby Maternal deprivation - only look at the mother, not the role of the father which does not include if there is a single father of gay parents. This can imply negative
- Freud - Inadequate superego
- Bowlby - maternal deprivation
- Bowlby role of the father - Bowlby said dad isn’t necessary and doesn’t contribute to anything but other research suggests interaction with dad in infancy promoted better mental health in adolescents (risk play). Huge pressure on mum.
- Family dysfunction theories
