Debates & Issues : Ethical Implications Flashcards
What does it mean to consider the ethical implications of research studies and theories?
- Researchers have a duty to consider the ethical implications of their work. This means thinking about the consequences of their research for the participants and other people affected by the research.
- There are ethical implications for not treating participants ethically within a study. causing lasting harm to the participants (e.g., psychological trauma), if researchers fail to
respect the rights of participants (e.g., harming them or not protecting their confidentiality),
then this can undermine respect for the profession of psychology. - Socially sensitive research has the potential to cause harm in a number of ways,
including:
• The research/theory could make people feel stressed as it might reveal aspects of
people’s lives that they might wish remained private (e.g., sexual behaviour).
• The research/theory could make people feel fearful by stigmatising (e.g., by
encouraging prejudice) or incriminating (e.g., research on criminal behaviour)
individuals or groups.
• The research/theory could be politically threatening (e.g., leading to discriminatory
social policies).
Give some examples of Socially sensitive research studies.
- Zimbardos Stanford Prison Experiment caused stress to the participants in the experiment. Prisoners feeling emotionally exposed, meaning their privacy is undermined.
- Milgrams research was socially sensitive in similar ways to Zimbardo.
- Milgrams research into obedience like Zimbardos research, definitely caused stress to the participants and the extreme behaviour that was captured raises serious issues around privacy, confidentiality and informed consent.
Give Examples of socially sensitive theories.
- Bowlbys Monotropic Theory proposed that children could be emotionally damaged through separation from their primal attachment figure.
- Freuds theory of the psychosexual stages was used to explain a host of behaviours and mental illnesses as arising from fixation due to unresolved conflicts in childhood, usually due to parental behaviour.
How should researchers deal with the ethical implications of socially sensitive research?
- Think about the research question — some questions have harmful consequences.
- Think about how participants are treated during the research—researchers need to consider the rights of their participants during the research.
- Think about the institutional context — researchers should consider who is funding their research.
- Think about how the findings are interpreted — researchers should think about how their research might be misinterpreted.
Explain why psychologists should not shy away from studying socially sensitive topics.
Bowlby’s maternal deprivation theory did lead to some negative social consequences, as some interpreted his ideas as implying infants need 24 hour care from their mothers, making it hard to go to work. But his
ideas also led to modern attachment theory which has shaped modern understanding of how children should be
cared for.Clearly socially sensitive research can be harmful, but it can also bring about great benefits. Therefore researchers should not necessarily shy away from conducting it. Avoiding socially sensitive research because it has the potential for harm vulnerable groups will mean that society fails to learn lessons about reducing the inequalities
that make these groups vulnerable in the first place.
Explain why ethical guidelines may not be adequate.
Ethical guidelines, such as the BPS code of conduct, focus on protecting the immediate needs of the participant e.g., protecting them from harm or safeguarding their confidentiality. However, as Sieber and Stanley have shown, the ethical implications of research go beyond the participants themselves. In their current form, ethical guidelines do not require that researchers consider how their research
may inflict harm in society. Sieber and Stanley have provided some useful advice on how to approach socially
sensitive research, but this isn’t a proper substitute for effective regulation. If psychologists are to conduct important but potentially harmful research on socially sensitive topics, it may be wise to empower regulatory bodies like the BPS to oversee the wider ethical implications associated with socially sensitive research and theories
Why may ethical guidelines not be adequate in their current form?
Ethical guidelines, such as the BPS code of conduct, focus on protecting the immediate needs of the participants e.g., protecting them from harm or safeguarding their confidentiality. However, as Sieber and Stanley have shown, the ethical implications of research go beyond the participants
themselves. In their current form, ethical guidelines do not require that researchers consider how their research
may inflict harm in society. Sieber and Stanley have provided some useful advice on how to approach socially
sensitive research, but this isn’t a proper substitute for effective regulation. If psychologists are to conduct
important but potentially harmful research on socially sensitive topics, it may be wise to empower regulatory bodies
like the BPS to oversee the wider ethical implications associated with socially sensitive research and theories.
Why are there issues associated with considering the ethical implications of socially sensitive topics?
According to one study by Ceci (1985) ethical committees in the US were more than
twice as likely to reject ethical approval for research if it was socially sensitive. Whether this is a good or a bad thing is not clear cut. Arguably preventing research into
some controversial areas is good for society. For example, preventing researchers
investigating the link between race and intelligence may prevent racists using this research
to further their cause. However, others might argue that prohibitions on what topics can be
studied not only raises issues around free speech, but ultimately prevents psychologists
from producing knowledge. Even if this knowledge is not of immediate direct benefit to society, it may still be interesting and, perhaps, may stimulate further research that does have clearer benefits.
Why is it argued that psychologists should not shy away from studying socially sensitive topics?
For example, Bowlby’s maternal deprivation theory did lead to some negative social consequences, as some
interpreted his ideas as implying infants need 24 hour care from their mothers, making it hard to go to work. But his
ideas also led to modern attachment theory which has shaped modern understanding of how children should be
cared for. Clearly socially sensitive research can be harmful, but it can also bring about great benefits. Therefore
researchers should not necessarily shy away from conducting it. Avoiding socially sensitive research because it has
the potential for harm vulnerable groups will mean that society fails to learn lessons about reducing the inequalities that make these groups vulnerable in the first place.
