Ethical Implications

Question 1

What are ethical implications in psychological research

Answer 1

Concerned with the way research impacts directly on those who participate in studies, as well as the wider impact of findings on specific societal groups the participants are representing and wider society itself

Question 2

What impacts can psychological research

Answer 2

1. The rights of the people who are participating in the research
2. The impact on wider society : Influencing of public policy, the way certain social groups are treated (could lead to discrimination) or the perception of certain groups of people

Question 3

What is meant by socially sensitive

Answer 3

Sieber and Stanley : studies in which there are potential consequences or implications, either directly for the participants involved in the research or for the class of individuals represented by the research

Often confront taboo topics such as aspects of race, sexuality etc - attract media attention

Some areas of study are likely to be more controversial than others, and it is these areas that are thought to be more socially sensitive

Question 4

Areas that are socially sensitive include :

Answer 4

• Stages of attachment
• Definitions of abnormality
• family explanations of schizophrenia
• parasocial relationships - ‘borderline pathological’
• Risk factors within addiction
• maternal deprivation hypothesis

Question 5

The 4 research processes and social consequences

Answer 5

1- The research question - may be damaging for certain social groups because it appears to add scientific credibility to prevailing prejudice
2- Conduct of research and treatment of participants - e.g. right to confidentiality
3- Institutional context - researcher should be aware of how data is gonna be used and consider who is funding
4- Interpretation and application of findings - needs to consider how findings might be interpreted and applied to real world e.g. social policy

Question 6

The 5 ethical issues in socially sensitive research

Answer 6

• Valid methodology - media and public won’t be aware of poor methodology
• Confidentiality- p’s less willing if confidentiality is breached
• Informed consent- p’s may not always comprehend what is going on
• Ownership of data- issues with determining ownership due to sponsorship
• Risk/benefit ratio- made even more difficult when findings are unexpected and/or the cost/benefits of research are only realised after its been conducted

Question 7

Eval of ethical implications

Answer 7

• wider impact should be pre-considered - however not always predictable
• cost benefit analysis can help reveal long term benefits e.g. Milgrams
• Aronson - social responsibility, being socially sensitive doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be researched - e.g. Bowlby’s theory of attachment
• mire engagement with policymakers/public is needed - help minimalise misuse