Ethical Implications of Research: Social Sensitivity

Question 1

What are the four aspects in the research process at which ethical issues with social consequences may occur

Answer 1

The Research Question (“Is homosexuality inherited”), Conduct of research and treatment of participants (If a participant confesses to a crime?), The Institutional Context (Where’s funding from), Interpretation and Application of Findings (Used for devious purposes)

Question 2

How may the research question lead to socially insesitive research

Answer 2

The research question may be damaging to members of a particular group, such as race or sexual orientation, because it seems to add scientific credibility to the prevailing prejudice. Take for example “Are there racial differences in IQ?”

Question 3

How might the conduct of research and treatment of participants lead to socially insensitive research

Answer 3

The main concern here is the confidentiality of the information collected, for example, if a participant confesses to a crime should confidentiality be maintained

Question 4

How might the institutional context lead to socially insensitive research

Answer 4

Research may be funded and managed by private institutions who may misuse the data or may misunderstand the data that is produced. The media may obtain reports of such research and misreport the findings

Question 5

How may the interpretation and application of findings lead to socially insensitive research

Answer 5

Research findings may be used for purposes other than originally intended, for example the development of IQ tests by psychologists was subsequently used to demonstrate the inferiority of certain groups of peope and the ‘feeble-minded’ who could then be sterilised

Question 6

What are the 10 types of ethical issues which relate to socially sensitive research

Answer 6

Privacy
Confidentiality
Valid Methodology
Deception
Informed Consent
Equitable Treatment
Scientific Freedom
Ownership of Data
Values
Risk/Benefit ratio

Question 7

How can privacy be an ethical issue for in socially sensitive research

Answer 7

During research a skilled investigator may extract more information from participants then they intended to give. Some research may lead to social policies that are an invasion of people’s private lives, for example through compulsory testing

Question 8

How can Confidentiality be an ethical issue for in socially sensitive research

Answer 8

Particpants may be less willing to divulge information in the future if confidentiality is breached and further related research would be compromised

Question 9

How can Valid methodology be an ethical issue for in socially sensitive research

Answer 9

In cases of poor methodology, and thus invalid findings, scientists may be aware of these problems but the public might not, and so poor studies may still shape socail policy to the detriment to groups represented

Question 10

How can Deception be an ethical issue for in socially sensitive research

Answer 10

Deception leads to distrust of research and psychology as a while, and so participants will stop volunteering to take part in research which they see as deceptive. This can also includes self-deception, where research can lead people to form untrue stereotypes

Question 11

How can Informed Consent be an ethical issue for in socially sensitive research

Answer 11

Even if a praticipant is given fully informed consent they may not always comprehend what is involved in the research

Question 12

How can Equitable treatment be an ethical issue for in socially sensitive research

Answer 12

All particpants should be treated in an equitable manner, and resources which are vital to the wellbeing of the participants are not withheld from one group whilst being given to another, such as treatment for a disorder being completely withheld from a control group

Question 13

How can Scientific Freedom be an ethical issue for in socially sensitive research

Answer 13

Scientific Freedom refers to the ability of scientists to engage in science they deem important, however scientists must have an obligation not to harm participants or the group they represent, as well as institutions in society

Question 14

How can Ownership of data be an ethical issue for in socially sensitive research

Answer 14

Some problems with determining the ownership of data involves the sponsor of the research, such as a university, versus the public having access to the data

Question 15

How can Values of the researcher be an ethical issue for in socially sensitive research

Answer 15

Psychologists differ in ther orientation towards subjective and objective research, and when sensitive issues arise there is a clash in such values between the scientist and recipient of the research

Question 16

How can Risk/Benefit ratio be an ethical issue for in socially sensitive research

Answer 16

Risks should be minimised, but sometimes in research it can be difficult to determine what the risks of researchc can be

Question 17

How have groups suffered the consequences of being excluded from research or being misinterpreted when they are included

Answer 17

It could be argued that our understanding of human behaviour has been lessened by our misinterpretations of, or faliure to include, representative samples of disabled people, the elderly, the disadvantaged and members of minority cultures. These shortcomings also mean that groups the miss out on any potential benefits of research

Question 18

How can psychologists ensure that socially sensitive research is used responsibly

Answer 18

Psychologists can engage with the public and policymakers to ensure that research is used responsibly. In order to reduce the likelyhood of misuse of data, psychologists should be energetic in taking responsibility for what happens to their findings. They should be aware of the possiblity for misuse of research to offer ‘scientific credibility to the prevailing prejudice’. For example the BPS has a press centre which aims to promote evidence based psychological research to the media. This suggets that scientists shouldn’t take a neutral stance on their research

Question 19

Why can’t we avoid socially sensitive research

Answer 19

One solution to socially sensitive research is to just avoid it, however this would leave psychologists with nothing to study but unimportant issues, and Sieber and Stanley argue that avoaiding contravercial topics simply because they are controversial is also an avoidance of responsibility, and therefore psychologists have a duty to conduct such research

Question 20

Why is the impact of socially sensitive research always greater

Answer 20

All research has some social consequences, but with socially sensitive research the partcipant, their family and friends and any groups the participant represent can be directly impacted by the research. Therefore researchers need ot think past simple safegurading of the individual in research

Question 21

Who argue that psychologists must study socially sensitive topics

Answer 21

Sieber and Stanley