ethical implications of research studies and theory issues and debates Flashcards
what is ethical implications and social sensitivity
concern the consequences that sychological research may have
this applies to all psychological research but some areas of research have greater social sensitivity than others
research on long term memory in student pop is unlikely to have conseuqneces for individual pps or the broader social groups the pps represent and unlikely to be conseuqences for social policy
study on depression have conseuqncenes in terms of individual pps the wider social group they represent and for social policy
individual pps may reveal personal info that is later accessed by propspective employer or findings of study may suggest that people with depression never fully recover and therefore are a risk as an employee , social policy findings of study on depression could inform preferred treatment options recommended by the nhs
even seemingly innocuous research may ahve conseuqneces in terms of exam policy
what is implications for the research process
psychological research has potential consequences but this applies to socially sensitive research
all stages of plannign and conducting studies important when thinking of social sensitivity
sieber and stanley warm that the way in which research questions phrased and investigated may influence the way in which findings interpreted, kitzinger and coyle note how research into relationships been guilty of form of heterosexual bias within which homosexual relationships were compared and judged against heterosexual norms
issues such as informed cnsent confidentiality and psychological harm may be important in sociall sensitive research, in a study on domestic abise pps may worry ex partner will find out about study and likely to be extremely stressful for pps to describe their epxeriences, pps not provide informed consent at start of study but not fully understand effect of the research
researchers should consider in advance how research findings may be used, may impact on what data they actually collect, important because findings from research may be seen as giivng scientific credence to existing prejudices
sensitive info exactly what the media tend to be interested in and will publicise
owens research on people in minimally conscious state received enormous media attention at the time as it appeared he had made contact with patients who were thought to be unreachable
what is benefits for groups
can have benefits for the group who have been studied
dsm-1 listed this as a sociopathic personality disorder- homosexuality but removed it in 1973
change has been credited on the kinsey report which was based on anonymousinterviews with over 5000 men about sexual behaviour
report concluded homosexuality typical expression of human sexual behaviour
report included data on interviews with 6000 women and caused outrage at the time because these were topic s that no one discussed
some studies there could be negative consequences for the groups being studied which in some cases oculd have been anticipated
research investigating the genetic basis of criminality has found there is a criminal gene
it does mean that someone could be convicted on the basis that they have such a gene or should they be excused because they cant be held responsible for any wrongdoing
suggests that when researching socially sensitive topics there is a need for careful consideration of the possible outcomes and their consequences
what is the real world applicaiton
certain groups rely on research related to socially sensitive issues
gov looks to research when developing important social policies, decisions related to child care education mental health provision crime etc
preferable to base policies on scientific research rather than politically motivated views
indepdent groups such as ONS who describe themselves as being responsible for collecting analysing and disseminating objective statistics about uk economy society and pop
data used in psychological research
means psychologists have important role to play in providing high quality research on socially sensitive topics
what is poor research design
poor research design may lead to erroneous findings contrinue to have impact
case in relation to burts research because vene after fraud exposed the 11+ continued to be used
11+ still used as selection tool in parts of uk today
access to independent schools is based on childs performance in an entrance exam taken in y6 and is likley based on the same reasoning the genetic potential has revealed itself by this age
any research on socially sensitive topics needs to be plannde with the greatest care to ensure the finidngs are valid because of the enduring effects on partiuclar groups of people
