5.7. Ethical Implications

Question 1

Socially sensitive research

Answer 1

Studies in which there are potential consequences or implications, either directly for the ppts in research or the class of individuals represented by the research.

Question 2

What are the 4 aspects in the research process at which ethical issues with social consequences may occur?

Answer 2

• The research question
• Conduct of research and treatment of ppts
• The institutional context
• Interpretation and application of findings

Question 3

The research question

Answer 3

Simply asking a question may be damaging to members of particular racial groups or sexual orientation because it appears to add scientific credibility to the prevailing prejudice.

Question 4

Conduct of research and treatment of ppts

Answer 4

The main concern is the confidentiality of the information collected
i.e if ppts confess to a crime, should it be kept confidential

Question 5

The institutional context

Answer 5

• Research may be funded and managed by private institutions who may misuse the data or may misunderstand the data that’s produced.
• The media may then obtain such findings and misreport them

Question 6

Interpretation and application of findings

Answer 6

Research findings may be used for purposes other than originally intended.
- i.e. IQ tests highlight inferiority of certain groups of people and used to identify ‘feeble minded’

Question 7

10 ethical issues in socially sensitive research

Answer 7

• Privacy
• Confidentiality
• Valid methodology
• Deception
• Informed Consent
• Equitable treatment
• Scientific freedom
• Ownership of data
• Values
• Risk/ benefit ratio

Question 7

Privacy

Answer 7

A skilled investigator may extract more info from ppts than they intended to give, some research may lead to social policies that are an invasion of people’s private lives.

Question 8

Confidentiality

Answer 8

Ppts may be less willing to divulge info in the future if confidentiality is breached + further related research would be compromised

Question 9

Valid methodology

Answer 9

Scientists may be aware of these problems, but the media + public may not, therefore poor studies may shape important social policy to the detriment of those represented by research.

Question 10

Deception

Answer 10

Includes self deception whereby research may lead to people to form untrue stereotypes which affects own performance.

Question 11

Informed consent

Answer 11

Potential ppts may not always understand what’s involved

Question 12

Equitable treatment

Answer 12

All ppts should be treated in an equitable manner, vital resources which are vital to a ppt should not be withheld from one group yet are available to another group

Question 13

Scientific freedom

Answer 13

Scientists have a duty/ obligation not to harm ppts as well as institutions in society

Question 14

Ownership of data

Answer 14

Some problems in determining ownership involve the sponsorship of the research and public accessibility

Question 15

Values

Answer 15

• Psychologists differ in orientation towards subjective and more objective approaches
• Sensitive issues arise when there’s a clash in such values between scientists and recipient of research

Question 16

Risk/benefit ratio

Answer 16

Risks should be minimised, but problems arise in determining risks as well as benefits

Question 17

Examples

Answer 17

• Milgram -> had to live with fact they could have killed
• Zimbardo -> prison guards labelled as aggressive but not all were
• HM’s family could have felt uncomfortable with publication of findings but research could benefit to the individual, family and wider society
• Adorno/ Cohrs et al on authoritarian personality -> could lead to assumption about prejudice

Question 18

Discussion: wider impact of research

Answer 18

• Always some consequences to participation in research, with socially sensitive research, there is also the increased potential for a more indirect impact on the ppt’s family, their co-workers or the group they represent
• It doesn’t seem sufficient to simply safeguard the interests of the individual in the research, there must be some consideration of the likely impact of the research on the larger group of which the ppt is a member

Question 19

Discussion: The inadequacy of current ethical guidelines

Answer 19

• There are strict guidelines in place for psychologists, however they only deal with the immediate needs of ppts rather than the group this impacts on in the real world

Question 20

Discussion: may disadvantage marginalised groups

Answer 20

• It could be argued that our understanding of human behaviour has been lessened by our interpretations of, or our failure to include representative samples
• This means those groups miss out on the potential benefits of the research -> opens a new ethical issue up

Question 21

Discussion: should socially sensitive research be avoided?

Answer 21

• It might be better to leave socially sensitive research on homosexuality, race, gender and addiction, as -ve consequences may prevail, however unimportant issues would only be left
• Sieber + Stanley state that avoiding controversial topics is an avoidance of responsibility -> psychologists have a duty to conduct such research

Question 22

Discussion: engaging with the public + policy makers

Answer 22

• To reduce misuse of data, psychologists need to be active in taking responsibility for what happens to their findings.
• They need to be aware their research might lead to abuse and discrimination
• The BPS has a press centre with aims to promote evidence based psychological research to the media. But researchers need to see it as part of the research process to promote their research in a socially sensitive way as opposed to neutral.