Ethical implications + Social sensitivity

Question 1

ethical guidelines

Answer 1

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

Question 2

ethical issues

Answer 2

= brings systems of morality + principles into conflict

– e.g. deception of ppts

Question 3

ethical implications

Answer 3

= 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

Question 4

social sensitivity

Answer 4

= 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

Question 5

social sensitivity exam question defintion…

Answer 5

– 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

Question 6

who is affected by research?

Answer 6

– 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

Question 7

ethical implications - research studies - Milgram…

Answer 7

…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

Question 8

ethical implications - research studies - Zimbardo…

Answer 8

…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

Question 9

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

Answer 9

…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

Question 10

reflexivity…

Answer 10

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

Question 11

social sensitivity - factors to be considered…

Answer 11

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

Question 12

social sensitivity - research Q…

Answer 12

…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?”

Question 13

social sensitivity - methodology used…

Answer 13

…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

Question 14

social sensitivity - institutional context…

Answer 14

…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?

Question 15

social sensitivity - interpretation + application…

Answer 15

…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)

Question 16

social sensitivity - forensics summary…

Answer 16

…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

Question 17

social sensitivity - Raine SS…

Answer 17

…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

Question 18

early history of intelligence - Yerkes…

Answer 18

…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

Question 19

how to deal w/ it…

Answer 19

– 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

Question 20

Ao3 - implications of unethical research…

Answer 20

…and how researchers have dealt with this

Question 21

Ao3 - cost benefit discussions…

Answer 21

…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)

Question 22

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

Answer 22

…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

Question 23

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

Answer 23

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

Question 24

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

Answer 24

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