Ethical Implications and Social Sensitivity Flashcards
What ethics do psychologists have to follow?
CDCDWP
Consent (informed)
Deception
Confidentiality
Debrief
Right to Withdraw
Protection from Harm
Who are the 4 groups affected by research?
- Participants = directly affected in the research
- The Public = influenced by publication of psychological findings
- Groups Studied = may suffer bias or discrimination due to public awareness of harmful research or self fulfilling prophecies
- Government Bodies/Agencies = use findings to develop policies and legislation, sometimes not in the interest of the group studied e..g reduce funding
Examples of research with Ethical Implications
- Milgram
- Deception, no informed consent
- Protection from harm - extreme stress and seizures
- Made to feel like no right to withdraw with prompts used
- Were debriefed at end but may be difficult for them to accept the fact they obeyed authority to cause another harm
- Zimbardo
- Distress, hunger strikes, extreme stress reactions, rash
- The research had to be stopped earlier because how the psychological stress the prisoners were experiencing
- Guards may have also been distressed later on because of how they behaved and the abuse they subjected the prisoners to
Example of Ethical Implications within theory
- Bowlby monotropic theory
- Suggests women’s role is to be the primary caregiver, could make mother’s feel guilty for going back to work
- Also discourage’s the father from having a large role in babies life because will be concerned they cannot form a strong attachment
How to deal with ethical implications
- Submit research proposals to ethics committee for peer review
- Conduct cost benefit analysis of the research (both short and long term)
What is social sensitivity and who researched it?
Sieber and Stanley = when research has potential consequences for the group of people represented in the research
Example of Social Sensitivity within research
- Raine et al
- Brain-scanned criminals, found damage focused around frontal lobe (impulse control)
- May be interpreted to suggest children should be brain-scanned to identify genetic predisposition for offending. Unease what to do with them
- Maybe involve genetic engineering to avoid transmitting criminal genes, very socially sensitive
- Legal implications, not criminals fault, should not be convicted
What are the 4 steps to overcoming Social Sensitivity?
QMIF
1. The Research Question: consider the research question carefully so the group studied is not misrepresented
2. The Methodology: ensures p’s rights to confidentiality and anonymity are met. Consider how p’s will react to the methodology. Submit to ethics committee to review costs/benefits prior to carrying out
3. The Institutional Context: consider how the data will be used and how it will be funded (how do the people funding it intend to use it?)
4. Interpretation and Application of Findings: consider how findings will be seen in real-world. Take steps to avoid prejudice and sensationalist media (by making conclusion objective and clarifying limitations of the research)
Ideas for Discussion (cost)
- Cost
- The costs of research may only become obvious years after published (e.g. Yerkes Intelligence test)
- Initial cost-benefit analysis won’t always be effective
- Also, may have short term costs (attachment theories) but long term benefits (changes to flexible working)
Ideas for Discussion (socially sensitive topics)
- Socially Sensitive Topics
- Areas like sexuality and gender are highly socially sensitive areas of investigation
- But if they are avoided then the groups will not be objectively studied
- Only 50% of sensitive research is conducted vs 95% non-sensitive (APA 2001)
- Conducting sensitive research may reduce prejudice and misconceptions in society e.g. removal of homosexuality from DSM, role of father in attachment so it’s important we still conduct it
