Ethical implications of research studies and theories

Question 1

What does ethical implications and social sensitivity concern?

Answer 1

The consequences that psychological research may have

Question 2

True/False: Some areas of research have greater social sensitivity than others

Answer 2

True

Question 3

Research on long-term memory in a student population is/isn’t likely to have consequences for individual participants or for the broader social groups the participants represent

Answer 3

isn’t

Question 4

Research on long-term memory is unlikely to have consequences for broader social groups that participants represent - in fact, the participants may not…

Answer 4

‘represent’ a social group. Participants may be drawn from many different social groups

Question 5

True/False: There are likely to be consequences for social policy from research on long-term memory in a student population

Answer 5

False, there aren’t

Question 6

Study on depression may have consequences in terms of…

Answer 6

individual participants, the wider social group they represent and for social policy

Question 7

Why may study on depression have consequences in terms of individual participants?

Answer 7

May reveal personal information later accessed by a prospective employer

Question 8

If findings of a study suggested that people with depression never fully recover, how could this negatively effect employment?

Answer 8

Employers may see they are a risk as an employee

Question 9

In terms of social policy, the findings of a study on depression could inform…

Answer 9

preferred treatment options recommended by the NHS

Question 10

True/False: Even seemingly innocuous research may have consequences in terms of exam policy, such as studies on long-term memory in students

Answer 10

True

Question 11

True/False: Socially sensitive research can have benefits for the group who have been studied

Answer 11

True

Question 12

Socially sensitive research can have benefits for the group who have been studied, for example…

Answer 12

homosexuality

Question 13

In ____ the DSM-1 listed homosexuality as a ‘sociopathic personality disorder’

Answer 13

1952

Question 14

In 1952 the ___-_ listed homosexuality as a ‘sociopathic personality disorder’

Answer 14

DSM-1

Question 15

In 1952 the DSM-1 listed _____________ as a ‘sociopathic personality disorder’

Answer 15

homosexuality

Question 16

In 1952 the DSM-1 listed homosexuality as a…

Answer 16

‘sociopathic personality disorder’

Question 17

When was homosexuality no longer classified as a ‘sociopathic personality disorder’?

Answer 17

1973

Question 18

Homosexuality no longer being classed as a ‘sociopathic personality disorder’ has been credited to what?

Answer 18

The Kinsey report

Question 19

The Kinsey report was based on…

Answer 19

anonymous interviews with over 5000 men about their sexual behaviour

Question 20

Kinsey et al. (1948) concluded that homosexuality is a…

Answer 20

typical expression of human sexual behaviour

Question 21

The Kinsey report also included data on interviews with ____ women

Answer 21

6000

Question 22

The Kinsey report also included data on interviews with 6000…

Answer 22

women

Question 23

Why did the Kinsey report including data on interviews with 6000 women cause outrage at the time?

Answer 23

These were topics that no one discussed

Question 24

The fact that homosexuality was removed from the DSM-1 as a ‘sociopathic personality disorder’ illustrates the importance of…

Answer 24

researchers tackling topics that are sensitive

Question 25

True/False: Socially sensitive research could have negative consequences for groups being studied

Answer 25

True

Question 26

Socially sensitive research could have negative consequences for groups being studied, of which in some cases...

Answer 26

could've been anticipated

Question 27

True/False: Research investigating the genetic basis of criminality has found that there is no such thing as a 'criminal gene'

Answer 27

False, there is evidence for this

Question 28

If it is true that there is a 'criminal gene', we must consider if...

Answer 28

someone could be convicted on the basis that they have such a gene or if they should be excused because they cannot be held responsible

Question 29

The fact that there could be negative consequences for groups being studied suggests that there is a need for...

Answer 29

very careful consideration of the possible outcomes and their consequences when researching socially sensitive topics

Question 30

Poor research design may lead to _________ findings

Answer 30

erroneous

Question 31

Poor research design may lead to _________ findings that once in the public arena they...

Answer 31

continue to have an impact

Question 32

Even after the fraud behind Burt's 11+ exam was exposed, the 11+...

Answer 32

continued to be used and still is used as a selection tool in parts of the UK today

Question 33

The 11+ is still used as a selection tool in parts of the UK today, such as...

Answer 33

Kent and Belfast

Question 34

Access to many independent schools is based on a child's performance in...

Answer 34

the 11+

Question 35

The fact that access to many independent schools is based on a child's performance in the 11+ is likely based on the reasoning that...

Answer 35

genetic potential has revealed itself by this age

Question 36

Any research on socially sensitive topics need to be planned with the greatest care to ensure...

Answer 36

the findings are valid because of the effects on particular groups of people

Question 37

Any research on socially sensitive topics need to be planned with the greatest care to ensure the findings are valid because of...

Answer 37

the effects on particular groups of people

Question 38

All psychological research has potential consequences but this applies to which kind of research in particular?

Answer 38

Socially sensitive research

Question 39

Which stages of planning and conducting studies are important when thinking of social sensitivity?

Answer 39

All stages, including later in handling the findings

Question 40

Sieber and Stanley (1988) warn that the way in which research questions are phrased and investigated may...

Answer 40

influence the way in which findings are interpreted

Question 41

Kitzinger and Coyle (1995) note how research into relationships has been guilty of a form of '...

Answer 41

'heterosexual bias'

Question 42

Kitzinger and Coyle (1995) note how research into relationships has been guilty of a form of 'heterosexual bias' within which...

Answer 42

homosexual relationships were compared and judged against heterosexual norms

Question 43

Give 2 examples of issues that may be especially important in socially sensitive research

Answer 43

Any 2 from informed consent, confidentiality, psychological harm, etc.

Question 44

Why is a study on domestic abuse an example of socially sensitive research?

Answer 44

Participants may worry that an ex-partner will find out about the study - this is likely to be extremely stressful for participants to describe their experiences

Question 45

Although participants in a study on domestic abuse may provide informed consent at the start of the study, they may not...

Answer 45

fully understand the effect of the research

Question 46

Researchers should consider in advance how research findings may be...

Answer 46

used

Question 47

Why should researchers consider in advance how research findings may be used?

Answer 47

It may impact on what data they actually collect

Question 48

Researchers should consider in advance how research findings may be used. This is especially important because...

Answer 48

findings from research may be seen as giving scientific credence to existing prejudices such as studies examining the ethnic basis of intelligence

Question 49

S________ i__________ is exactly what the media tend to be interested in and will publicise

Answer 49

sensitive information

Question 50

Why did Owen's research on people in a minimally conscious state receive enormous media attention at the time?

Answer 50

It appeared he had made contact with patients who were thought to be 'unreachable'

Question 51

Give an example of a group that relies on research related to socially sensitive issues

Answer 51

Policymakers

Question 52

Give 2 examples of subject areas of research that the government may look at when developing important social policies

Answer 52

Any 2 from decisions related to childcare, education, mental health provision, crime, etc.

Question 53

It is clearly preferable to base policies on socially sensitive issues on scientific research rather than...

Answer 53

politically-motivated views

Question 54

Why are there independent groups such as the ONS in the UK?

Answer 54

It is preferable to base policies regarding socially sensitive issues on scientific research rather than politically-motivated views

Question 55

ONS

Answer 55

Office for National Statistics

Question 56

The office for national statistics describe themselves as being responsible for...

Answer 56

collecting, analysing and disseminating objective statistics regarding society and the population

Question 57

The office for national statistics describe themselves as being responsible for collecting, analysing and disseminating objective statistics concerning who?

Answer 57

Society and the population

Question 58

The fact that the government looks to research when developing important social policies means that psychologists have an...

Answer 58

important role to play in providing high quality research on socially sensitive topics

Question 59

True/False: People appear to be avoiding socially sensitive research

Answer 59

True

Question 60

In ____, the APA reported that ethical committees approved 95% of non-sensitive proposals that didn't include ethical problems

Answer 60

2001

Question 61

In 2001, the ___ reported that ethical committees approved 95% of non-sensitive proposals that didn't include ethical problems

Answer 61

APA

Question 62

In 2001, the APA reported that ethical committees approved __% of non-sensitive proposals that didn't include ethical problems

Answer 62

95

Question 63

In 2001, the APA reported that ethical committees approved 95% of non-sensitive proposals that didn't include ethical problems, whereas 'sensitive' proposals were only approved about __% of the time

Answer 63

50

Question 64

What did Sieber and Stanley advice regarding socially sensitive research?

Answer 64

Ignoring such topics is not a responsible approach

Question 65

One way of dealing with socially sensitive research instead of avoiding it is to follow...

Answer 65

qualitative researchers who are more up-front about their own biases and are reflexive in their approach

Question 66

One way of dealing with socially sensitive research is to follow qualitative researchers who are more up-front about their own biases and are reflexive in their approach. What does this mean?

Answer 66

They reflect on how personal beliefs affect the research process

Question 67

We need to consider if it's possible to research socially sensitive topics...

Answer 67

ethically