Explain one ethical consideration in one study of the individual and the group.

Question 1

Theory

Answer 1

Ethical considerations refer to the moral principles that guide research to ensure the safety, dignity, and rights of participants are protected. This includes avoiding harm, ensuring informed consent, and minimizing any undue stress or discomfort.
An important ethical consideration in studies of the individual and the group is the potential for undue stress and harm, especially when sensitive topics like stereotypes are involved. Participants may experience anxiety or emotional discomfort during the study, which researchers must carefully manage.

Question 2

Aim

Answer 2

this was seen in Steele and Aronson’s (1995) study on the effects of stereotype threat. The aim of the study was to investigate how activating negative stereotypes about a social group can affect members of that group—in this case, African Americans—on academic performance.

Question 3

Procedure

Answer 3

In the study, 114 Black and White undergraduate students from Stanford University were randomly assigned to one of two conditions. In the stereotype threat condition, participants were told that they were taking a test of verbal ability, while in the non-threat condition, they were told that the test was a problem-solving task. All participants took the same standardized test, but the way it was described influenced how they interpreted it. The results showed that Black participants performed significantly worse in the stereotype threat condition, but they performed equally well as White participants in the non-threat condition. This suggests that the activation of a negative stereotype caused anxiety and impaired performance.

Question 4

Link

Answer 4

This study raises ethical concerns because it may have caused undue stress to African American participants, who could have experienced anxiety and lowered self-esteem during the test. While the research aimed to better understand the effects of stereotypes, it also exposed participants to potential psychological discomfort.
Thus, Steele and Aronson’s study highlights the ethical responsibility of researchers to minimize undue stress and harm when investigating sensitive group-related topics, ensuring participants’ well-being is protected throughout the research process.