Ethical Implications Of Research Studies and Theorys

Question 1

Define ‘ethical implications’.

Answer 1

• The consequences of any research (studies & or theory) in terms of the effects on individual ppts or on the way in which certain groups of people are subsequently regarded.
• There may also be consequences on a wider societal level

Question 2

What is socially sensitive research?

Answer 2

• Sieber & Stanley (1988)
• Used term social sensitivity to describe studies where there are potential social implications

They identified four aspects in the scientific research process that raise ethical implications in socially sensitive research: If there are consequences for the ppts or the group of people represented by the research.

Question 3

What are the 4 aspects that raise ethical implications in socially sensitive research?

e.g. how could the researchers deal w a socially sensitive issue?

Answer 3

• The research question- Researcher must consider their research question as it may be damaging or diminishing to a particular social group. For example are blondes less intelligent than brunnettes has negtive implications blonde haired people
• The methodology used- The researchers need to consider the treatment of the ppts & their right to confidentiality & anonymity e.g. if someone commits a crime shld the researcher maintain confidentiality
• The institutional context- Researcher shld be mindful of how the data is going to be used & consider who is funding the research
• Interpretation & application of findings- The researcher needs to consider how their findings might be interpreted & applied in the real world.

Question 4

Give an example of one study that had ethical implications.

Answer 4

• Robert Yerkes tested military recruits using IQ testing
• This was prior to WW1
• Tests were culturally biased- they were based on the norms & knowlege of a white middle class culture
• Found that 89% black recruits & 37% of white recruits were below average intelligence
• Data was used to determine the idea that race determines intelligence

Question 5

What were the ACTUAL ethical implications that Yerke’s military testing had?

Answer 5

• Between 1907 & 1963 64,000 people were forcibly sterilised under eugenic legislation in the USA & in 1972 the US senate committee admitted that over 2000 poor black women had been involuntarily sterilised without their consent
• This is clearly socially sensitive as huge number of people were negatively affected by a flawed theory

Question 6

Give another example of a study that had ethical implications.

Answer 6

• Research has shown that family dysfunction has been associated with schizophrenia
• Kavanagh (1992) reviewed 26 studies of expressed emotion- a highly negative communication style in families
• Schizophrenic patients who returned to families where there was a high EE were twice as likely to relapse as patients returning to low EE families

Question 7

Why is Kavanagh’s research socially sensitive?

Answer 7

• It is SSR as it suggests that schizophrenia is in part determined by family
• The research does not actually prove that dysfunction causes schizophrenia though, as it could be that having a schizophrenic relative leads to high levels of negative emotion
• However family members may be stigmatised or experience high levels of guilt if they are seen as being ‘responsible’ for their relative schizophrenia

Question 8

Give another example of socially sensitive research.

Answer 8

• Bowlby developed maternal deprivation hypothesis stating that separation from mother in critical period (0-2.5 yrs) without an emotional attachment figure leads to emotional & behavioural issues & difficulties forming attachments
• In his 44 thieves study he found that the thieves who had experienced deprivation from their mother were more likely to be classified as affectionless psychopaths

Question 9

What are the ethical implications behind Bowlby’s research & how is it socially sensitive research?

Answer 9

• Mothers with small children felt that they had to stay home to look after them so that they did not emotionally harm their children for life
• This created a gender divide across economic & social areas as women became more dependant on their partner for support
• In turn this left them less powerful which could have negatively impacted women who could not leave abusive relationships for example due to a lack of independance.

This is a socially sensitive theory as it disadvantages one half of society & creates gender bias