Ethical Implications Flashcards
What are ethical issues?
Consider rights and dignity of participants, usually easy to predict
What are ethical implications?
Considers impact or consequences of psychological research or theories on society and the way certain groups are regarded e.g. effects of publications on public, use of findings (allocation of resources/political consequences), economic implications
Give examples of ethical implications in psychological research
Bowlbys monotonic theory
- May pressure working mothers to stay at home; could also inform policies
Biological determinism : MAOA gene
- could prevent people with genes from having children or imprison those with gene
Positive
- mental illness treatments
- EWT; leading questions, anxiety etc
What ethical concerns must be considered in psychological research?
1 research question = ensure questions are not damaging to certain groups or the way findings are interpreted
2 dealing with participants = consider ethical issues
3 use of findings = need to consider how findings may be applied e.g. policies or resources and funding
Evaluate ethical implications
Positive impact of socially sensitive research
e.g. Bowlbys MDH helped develop childcare in UK + mothers gaining more custody in legal battles
- DSM-I listed homosexuality as a sociopathic disorder, removed in 70s after research showed it as typical expression of sexuality
- Romanian orphans allowed understanding of importance of having a single caregiver, improved conditions of institutions
Real world application
- government consult psychologists on a range of issues e.g treatments, free school meals, free childcare for <1 yos, prison reform, improved EWT
- important role in providing high quality research into socially sensitive research
Validity of data
11+ exam based on Cyril Burt’s idea that intelligence is heritable based on twin studies later proven to be largely false but test still used
- highlights importance of sensitive topics need to be carefully planned to ensure validity as can have potential lasting effect on groups
Describe ways to prevent ethical implications
- submit research proposals to ethics committee + abide by recommendations
- weigh up costs + benefits before conducting research
- take care when formulating aims + questions to not misrepresent groups
- be alert to possibility of misuse of findings + take steps to present in a non biased way
-reflexive practices; acknowledge how own personal beliefs may affect research process
