2.7 Ethical Implications Of Research Studies And Theory

Question 1

Who proposed the ‘10 ethical issues in socially sensitive research’?

Answer 1

Sieber and Stanley (1988)

Question 2

List the 10 ethical issues in socially sensitive research

Answer 2

privacy
confidentiality
valid methodology
deception
informed consent
equitable treatment
scientific freedom
ownership of data
values
risk/benefit ratio

Question 3

When looking at the ‘10 ethical issues in research’ , why is privacy considered an ethical issue?

Answer 3

During the research process, an investigator may extract more information from participants than they intend to give.
Some research may lead to social policies that are an invasion of people’s private lives.

Question 4

When looking at the ‘10 ethical issues in research’ , why is confidentiality considered an ethical issue?

Answer 4

participants may be less willing to divulge information in the future if confidentiality is breached and further related research would be compromised.

Question 5

When looking at the ‘10 ethical issues in research’ , why is valid methodology considered an ethical issue?

Answer 5

In cases of poor methodology (and therefore invalid findings), scientists may be aware of these problems, but the media and public may not, and thus poor studies might shape important social policy to the detriments of those groups represented by the research.

Question 6

When looking at the ‘10 ethical issues in research’ , why is deception considered an ethical issue?

Answer 6

Includes self-deception whereby research may lead people to form untrue stereotypes, which then affects one’s own performance.

Question 7

When looking at the ‘10 ethical issues in research’ , why is informed consent an ethical issue?

Answer 7

Potential participants may not always comprehend what is involved.

Question 8

When looking at the ‘10 ethical issues in research’ , why is equitable treatment an ethical issue?

Answer 8

All participants should be treated in an equitable manner, and resources which are vital to the participants well-being are not withheld from one group whilst being available to another.

Question 9

When looking at the ‘10 ethical issues in research’ , why is scientific freedom an ethical issue?

Answer 9

the scientist has a duty to engage in research but at the same time has an obligation to not harm participants as well as institutions in society.

Question 10

When looking at the ‘10 ethical issues in research’ , why is ownership of data considered an ethical issue?

Answer 10

some of the problems with determining ownership involve the sponsorship of the research and the public accessibility of the data

Question 11

When looking at the ‘10 ethical issues in research’ , why is values considered an ethical issue?

Answer 11

psychologists differ in their orientation towards subjective (idiographic) approaches and more objective (scientific) approaches. Sensitive issues arise when there is a clash in such values between the scientist and recipient of the research.

Question 12

When looking at the ‘10 ethical issues in research’ , why is risk/benefit ratio considered an ethical issue?

Answer 12

risks or costs should be minimised, but problems arise in determining risks as well as benefits.

Question 13

define socially sensitive research.

Answer 13

any research that might have direct social consequences for the participants in the research or the group that they represent.

Question 14

what 4 aspects of the research process did Sieber and Stanley identify that ethical issues with social consequences may occur?

Answer 14

the research question
conduct of research and treatment of participants
the institutional context
interpretation and application of findings

Question 15

when looking at the 4 aspects in the research process at which ethical issues with social consequences may occur, why is the research question considered an aspect?

Answer 15

simply asking a research question (such as ‘is homosexuality inherited?’ or ‘are there racial differences in IQ?’) may be damaging to members of a particular racial group or sexual orientation because it appears to add scientific credibility to the prevailing prejudice

Question 16

when looking at the 4 aspects in the research process at which ethical issues with social consequences may occur, why is conduct of research and treatment of participants considered an aspect?

Answer 16

the main concern is the confidentiality of the information collected e.g. if a participant confesses to a crime, should confidentiality be maintained?

Question 17

when looking at the 4 aspects in the research process at which ethical issues with social consequences may occur, why is institutional context an aspect?

Answer 17

research may be funded and managed by private institutions who may misuse the data or may misunderstand the data that is produced.
the media may obtain reports of such research and misreport the findings.

Question 18

when looking at the 4 aspects in the research process at which ethical issues with social consequences may occur, why is interpretation and application of findings an aspect?

Answer 18

research findings may be used for purposes other than originally intended.
for example, the development of IQ tests by psychologists was subsequently used to demonstrate the inferiority of certain groups of people, and was also used to identify the ‘feeble-minded’ who could then be sterilised ( a practice in the US in the early 20th century)

Question 19

summarise social sensitivity as an ethical implication of research studies and theory

Answer 19

the research process may have social consequences (Sieber and Stanley):

• research question may damage some groups
• conduct of research, especially confidentiality
• institutional context may lead to data misuse or misunderstanding
• interpretation and application of findings, e.g. IQ tests used to promote black stereotypes

Question 20

evaluate ethical implications of research studies and theory

Answer 20

the wider impact of research - family, co-workers, etc. may be affected and need safeguarding
inadequacy of current ethical guidelines, e.g. researchers not required to consider their use of their research
may disadvantage marginalised groups who are not included as research participants and then research findings can’t be applied to them
can’t avoid socially sensitive research - psychologists have a responsibility to tackle difficult topics
engaging with the public and policymakers - individual psychologists should actively promote the benefits of their research

Question 21

list some examples of ethical issues in socially sensitive research.

Answer 21

• privacy, participants may reveal more than they intended
• valid methodology, poor methods omitted from media reports
• values, scientists seek general laws, whereas participants interested in individuals
• risk/benefit ratio, hard to determine