Ethical Implications of Readearch studies and theory

Question 1

what do the ethical implications of psychological research relate to?

Answer 1

the way that studies and theories have a wide-reaching impact upon the participants involved in a study, how research is communicated to the public and how research is applied to society

Question 2

where ethical implications felt?

Answer 2

Outside the research

Question 3

what did Sieber and Stanley (1988) use the term social sensitivity to describe?

Answer 3

studies and or theories where there are potential social consequences for the participants or the group of people represented by the research

Question 4

what does conducting socially sensitive research have potential consequences for?

Answer 4

the participants themselves (beyond the study); people close to participants (e.g. family, friends, colleagues); the social group from which the participants were drawn (e.g. ethnic, cultural, sub-cultural); wider society and political agendas; and the researchers who conducted the research, or the institution to which they belong

Question 5

what is an implication of socially sensitive research?

Answer 5

that it can potentially lead to a change in, or justification for, the way people are perceived or treated

Question 6

Why bowlby’s theory of attachment an example of socially sensitive research?

Answer 6

research because it has potential consequences for children and their caregivers

Question 7

what does the theory of monotropy suggest?

Answer 7

that children form one special attachment bond, usually with their mother, which must take place within a critical period and affects future relationships through the child’s internal working model

Question 8

What is a consequence of the theory of monotropy?

Answer 8

that it encourages the view that a woman’s place is at home with her children, which could make some mothers feel guilty for wanting to return to work, following childbirth

Question 9

what are four aspects that Sieber and Stanley identified in the scientific research process that raises ethical implications in socially sensitive research?

Answer 9

-The research question
-Treatment of participants
-The institutional context
-Interpretation and application of findings

Question 10

Who does the research question affect?

Answer 10

affects participants and the group to which they belong

Question 11

how can the research question raise ethical implications in socially sensitive research?

Answer 11

The way the question is phrased may be damaging to members of a particular group. For example ‘are there racial differences in IQ?

Question 12

what is an example of the research question raising ethical implications and social sensitive research?

Answer 12

-Goddard (1917) issued IQ tests to immigrants in the US.
-He ‘found’ the immigrants were ‘feeble minded’ however he failed to acknowledge cultural bias in the questions, which were presented in English and required knowledge of American culture in order to answer.

Question 13

What is the ethical implication that the research question could raise?

Answer 13

Gives scientific credibility to discriminatory actions

Question 14

Who does the treatment of participants affect?

Answer 14

participants and the group to which they belong- researchers need to consider the treatment of the participants’ and their right to confidentiality and anonymity may not be upheld

Question 15

what is an example of the treatment of participants raising ethical implications in socially sensitive research?

Answer 15

Researchers need to consider the treatment of the participants’ and their right to confidentiality and anonymity may not be upheld

Question 16

what is the ethical implication that could be raised due to the treatment of participants?

Answer 16

The willingness of this minority group to become involved in future research could be decreased. (inability to represent all groups in society because they know they are not fully protected from anonymity.)

Question 17

Who does the institutional context affect?

Answer 17

the researcher, institution and wider society

Question 18

what is the institutional context?(outlined)

Answer 18

The source of funding for research may dictate how it is conducted or how the findings are used

Question 19

what is an example of institutional context raising ethical implications and socially sensitive research?

Answer 19

Jooba cited several meta-analysis into anti-depressant research and found publication bias as mainly positive outcomes were reported as the institutions get significant funding from pharmaceutical companies

Question 20

why can the institutional context raise ethical implications in socially sensitive research?

Answer 20

This creates serious distortion in the literature and can ultimately affect the health of many millions of people

Question 21

who does the interpretation application of affect?

Answer 21

wider society and political agendas

Question 22

how could the interpretation and application of findings raised ethical implications and socially sensitive research?

Answer 22

The findings of research could be used to inform government’s policy decisions.

Question 23

what is an example of the interpretation and application of findings raising ethical implications in socially sensitive research?

Answer 23

-Bowlby’s work on attachment and maternal deprivation saw him become a World Health Organisation advisor in the 1950s.
-It is argued his theories underpinned the UK government’s decision to not offer free childcare places to under 5s.

Question 24

what is the implication that can be caused by the interpretation application of findings in socially sensitive research?

Answer 24

All citizens affected by the policy change will be as a direct consequence of the findings of the study. (e.g. working mums)