Ethical Implications Flashcards
State 3 of the 10 BPS ethical guidelines.
- Informed consent.
- Deception.
- Confidentiality.
- Withdrawal rights.
- Privacy.
- Protection of participants, (physical and psychological harm).
- Debriefing.
- Colleagues research.
- Psychological Consequences.
- Giving advice.
What are ethical guidelines?
A framework that we use to protect PPs and ensure that we are following protocols in place by BPS.
Ethical implications encompasses the impact that research can have on PPs, society, policies, a particular group; going beyond the research.
When does an ethical guideline become an ethical issue?
When it is not adhered to.
In psychology, a researcher will…
Select their methodology.
Select their participants.
Adhere to ethical guidelines (BPS).
Conduct their research.
Draw conclusions and present their findings.
After researcher findings have been presented, what happens next?
People can manipulate their research, or what people other psychologists/ people do with the findings.
This suggests a lack of researcher control.
Data being in the public domain could become a catalyst for meta-analysis; for Ainsworth’s case perhaps highlighting the importance of cultural bias (ethnocentric), due to being too simplistic, shifting issues onto parents.
How can a lack of researcher control post-experiment publication be avoided?
Be clear about conclusions and findings, to limit public generalisation and extrapolation.
What are ethical implications?
The impact that psychological research may have in terms of the rights of other people especially participants.
This includes, at a societal level, influencing public policy and/or the way in which certain groups of people are regarded.
Some areas of research are likely to be more controversial, and be subject to greater social sensitivity.
What is socially sensitive research?
‘Studies in which there are potential social consequences or implications, either directly for the participants in research or the class of individuals represented by the research” - Stanley et al (1988).
State 3 examples of socially sensitive research topics.
- Race.
- IQ.
- Disabilities.
- Gender.
- Age.
- Class.
- Occupations and professions.
- Aggression.
State 3 advantages of conducting socially sensitive research.
Explores social discriminations, allowing further education and informing.
Can allow for the improvement for the involvement of more social groups, e.g. disabled.
If socially sensitive studies weren’t researched, then important topics would not be discussed.
Better understandings of social divisions.
State 3 disadvantages of conducting socially sensitive research.
Potential racism and prejudices if research supports a certain belief.
Research may be manipulated when in public, leading to discrimination.
Research must make sure that data is fully confidential, participants may not want personal findings to be published.
State 3 pieces of research that are considered socially sensitive.
Milgram:
Tested whether German’s where different, leading them to blindly obey, committing acts of murder without question. This spreads a Nazi stereotype spread across all German citizens.
Rutter:
Compared Romanian orphans to a control group, seeing how they differed developmentally.
Zimbardo:
Looked into whether people had sadistic personalities, thus potentially leading to these people being treated differently in societies.
Bowlby:
Suggested that only mothers can be primary care givers, ignoring the role of the fathers and other care givers.
Bandura:
Studied aggression in children, this is a socially sensitive topic.
What did Stanley et al do in 1988?
Identified a number of concerns that research should be mindful of when conducting socially sensitive research:
Implications:
- The wider effects of such research should be carefully considered as some studies may be seen as giving ‘scientific’ credence to prejudice and discrimination, such as studies examining racial basis of intelligence.
- However, the implications of research may be difficult to predict at the outset.
Uses/public policy:
- What is the research likely to be used for? And what would happen if it was used for the wrong purpose? (flow diagram from earlier).
- This is related to the idea that findings may be adopted by the government for political ends or to shape public policy.
The validity of the research:
- Some findings that are presented as objective and value free in the past have actually turned out to be highly suspect, and in some cases, fraudulent (Burt IQ).
- However, many modern social constructionist researchers- who may tackle socially sensitive research areas are much more up-front about their biases and preconceptions, and include comment on the reflexive nature of their work in their publications.
Outline ‘implications’ as a concern that researchers should be mindful of when conducting socially sensitive research.
(Stanley et al, 1988)
The wider effects of such research should be carefully considered as some studies may be seen as giving ‘scientific’ credence to prejudice and discrimination, such as studies examining racial basis of intelligence.
However, the implications of research may be difficult to predict at the outset.
Outline ‘uses/public policy’ as a concern that researchers should be mindful of when conducting socially sensitive research.
(Stanley et al, 1988)
What is the research likely to be used for? And what would happen if it was used for the wrong purpose? (flow diagram from earlier).
This is related to the idea that findings may be adopted by the government for political ends or to shape public policy.
