Ethical implications of research studies and theories Flashcards
What does ethical implications and social sensitivity concern?
The consequences that psychological research may have
True/False: Some areas of research have greater social sensitivity than others
True
Research on long-term memory in a student population is/isn’t likely to have consequences for individual participants or for the broader social groups the participants represent
isn’t
Research on long-term memory is unlikely to have consequences for broader social groups that participants represent - in fact, the participants may not…
‘represent’ a social group. Participants may be drawn from many different social groups
True/False: There are likely to be consequences for social policy from research on long-term memory in a student population
False, there aren’t
Study on depression may have consequences in terms of…
individual participants, the wider social group they represent and for social policy
Why may study on depression have consequences in terms of individual participants?
May reveal personal information later accessed by a prospective employer
If findings of a study suggested that people with depression never fully recover, how could this negatively effect employment?
Employers may see they are a risk as an employee
In terms of social policy, the findings of a study on depression could inform…
preferred treatment options recommended by the NHS
True/False: Even seemingly innocuous research may have consequences in terms of exam policy, such as studies on long-term memory in students
True
True/False: Socially sensitive research can have benefits for the group who have been studied
True
Socially sensitive research can have benefits for the group who have been studied, for example…
homosexuality
In ____ the DSM-1 listed homosexuality as a ‘sociopathic personality disorder’
1952
In 1952 the ___-_ listed homosexuality as a ‘sociopathic personality disorder’
DSM-1
In 1952 the DSM-1 listed _____________ as a ‘sociopathic personality disorder’
homosexuality
In 1952 the DSM-1 listed homosexuality as a…
‘sociopathic personality disorder’
When was homosexuality no longer classified as a ‘sociopathic personality disorder’?
1973
Homosexuality no longer being classed as a ‘sociopathic personality disorder’ has been credited to what?
The Kinsey report
The Kinsey report was based on…
anonymous interviews with over 5000 men about their sexual behaviour
Kinsey et al. (1948) concluded that homosexuality is a…
typical expression of human sexual behaviour
The Kinsey report also included data on interviews with ____ women
6000
The Kinsey report also included data on interviews with 6000…
women
Why did the Kinsey report including data on interviews with 6000 women cause outrage at the time?
These were topics that no one discussed
The fact that homosexuality was removed from the DSM-1 as a ‘sociopathic personality disorder’ illustrates the importance of…
researchers tackling topics that are sensitive
True/False: Socially sensitive research could have negative consequences for groups being studied
True
Socially sensitive research could have negative consequences for groups being studied, of which in some cases…
could’ve been anticipated
True/False: Research investigating the genetic basis of criminality has found that there is no such thing as a ‘criminal gene’
False, there is evidence for this
If it is true that there is a ‘criminal gene’, we must consider if…
someone could be convicted on the basis that they have such a gene or if they should be excused because they cannot be held responsible
The fact that there could be negative consequences for groups being studied suggests that there is a need for…
very careful consideration of the possible outcomes and their consequences when researching socially sensitive topics
Poor research design may lead to _________ findings
erroneous
Poor research design may lead to _________ findings that once in the public arena they…
continue to have an impact
Even after the fraud behind Burt’s 11+ exam was exposed, the 11+…
continued to be used and still is used as a selection tool in parts of the UK today
The 11+ is still used as a selection tool in parts of the UK today, such as…
Kent and Belfast
Access to many independent schools is based on a child’s performance in…
the 11+
The fact that access to many independent schools is based on a child’s performance in the 11+ is likely based on the reasoning that…
genetic potential has revealed itself by this age
Any research on socially sensitive topics need to be planned with the greatest care to ensure…
the findings are valid because of the effects on particular groups of people
Any research on socially sensitive topics need to be planned with the greatest care to ensure the findings are valid because of…
the effects on particular groups of people
All psychological research has potential consequences but this applies to which kind of research in particular?
Socially sensitive research
Which stages of planning and conducting studies are important when thinking of social sensitivity?
All stages, including later in handling the findings
Sieber and Stanley (1988) warn that the way in which research questions are phrased and investigated may…
influence the way in which findings are interpreted
Kitzinger and Coyle (1995) note how research into relationships has been guilty of a form of ‘…
‘heterosexual bias’
Kitzinger and Coyle (1995) note how research into relationships has been guilty of a form of ‘heterosexual bias’ within which…
homosexual relationships were compared and judged against heterosexual norms
Give 2 examples of issues that may be especially important in socially sensitive research
Any 2 from informed consent, confidentiality, psychological harm, etc.
Why is a study on domestic abuse an example of socially sensitive research?
Participants may worry that an ex-partner will find out about the study - this is likely to be extremely stressful for participants to describe their experiences
Although participants in a study on domestic abuse may provide informed consent at the start of the study, they may not…
fully understand the effect of the research
Researchers should consider in advance how research findings may be…
used
Why should researchers consider in advance how research findings may be used?
It may impact on what data they actually collect
Researchers should consider in advance how research findings may be used. This is especially important because…
findings from research may be seen as giving scientific credence to existing prejudices such as studies examining the ethnic basis of intelligence
S________ i__________ is exactly what the media tend to be interested in and will publicise
sensitive information
Why did Owen’s research on people in a minimally conscious state receive enormous media attention at the time?
It appeared he had made contact with patients who were thought to be ‘unreachable’
Give an example of a group that relies on research related to socially sensitive issues
Policymakers
Give 2 examples of subject areas of research that the government may look at when developing important social policies
Any 2 from decisions related to childcare, education, mental health provision, crime, etc.
It is clearly preferable to base policies on socially sensitive issues on scientific research rather than…
politically-motivated views
Why are there independent groups such as the ONS in the UK?
It is preferable to base policies regarding socially sensitive issues on scientific research rather than politically-motivated views
ONS
Office for National Statistics
The office for national statistics describe themselves as being responsible for…
collecting, analysing and disseminating objective statistics regarding society and the population
The office for national statistics describe themselves as being responsible for collecting, analysing and disseminating objective statistics concerning who?
Society and the population
The fact that the government looks to research when developing important social policies means that psychologists have an…
important role to play in providing high quality research on socially sensitive topics
True/False: People appear to be avoiding socially sensitive research
True
In ____, the APA reported that ethical committees approved 95% of non-sensitive proposals that didn’t include ethical problems
2001
In 2001, the ___ reported that ethical committees approved 95% of non-sensitive proposals that didn’t include ethical problems
APA
In 2001, the APA reported that ethical committees approved __% of non-sensitive proposals that didn’t include ethical problems
95
In 2001, the APA reported that ethical committees approved 95% of non-sensitive proposals that didn’t include ethical problems, whereas ‘sensitive’ proposals were only approved about __% of the time
50
What did Sieber and Stanley advice regarding socially sensitive research?
Ignoring such topics is not a responsible approach
One way of dealing with socially sensitive research instead of avoiding it is to follow…
qualitative researchers who are more up-front about their own biases and are reflexive in their approach
One way of dealing with socially sensitive research is to follow qualitative researchers who are more up-front about their own biases and are reflexive in their approach. What does this mean?
They reflect on how personal beliefs affect the research process
We need to consider if it’s possible to research socially sensitive topics…
ethically