Ethical Implications Of Research Studies And Theories

Question 1

Why is meant by ethical implications and social sensitivity?

Answer 1

• The consequences research and finding may have, especially areas with social sensitivity e.g a study on depression may effect individual pps and the wider social group they represent.
• Individual pps may reveal information a future employer finds, or findings may suggest that those with depression never fully recover and so are risky employees
• Or could influence how organisations such as the NHS treat depression

Question 2

What are potential effects of research questions?

Answer 2

• Sieber and Stanley warn the way a question is phrased may influence how findings are interpreted
• e.g Kitzinger and Coyle noted how research into relationships have been guilty of ‘heterosexual bias’ as they compare homosexual couples to heterosexual norms

Question 3

How should researchers deal with pps?

Answer 3

• informed consent, confidentiality and psychological harm may be especially important within socially sensitive research
• e.g study into DV may have victims worry their ex partners would find them, also stres inducing for pps to describe experiences
• pp may initially provide informed consent but not fully understanding the effect of the research (right to withdrawal)

Question 4

How should researchers consider how the findings may be used?

Answer 4

• Should consider this in advance as it may impact what data they collect, findings may be used as giving scientific credence to prejudiced falsehoods e.g studies examining the ethnic basis of intelligence
• sensitive info if what the media will be interested in and publicise e.g Owen’s research on people in a minimally conscious state

Question 5

How can socially sensitive research benefit groups?

Answer 5

• 1952 DSM-1 listed homosexuality as ‘sociopathic personality disorder’ but it was removed in 1973, change was credited to Kinsey whose report (based on anonymous interviews with over 5000 men about their sexual behaviour). Report concluded homosexuality is a typical expression of human sexual behaviour

Question 6

How does socially sensitive research become useful in the real world?

Answer 6

• Government look into socially sensitive research when developing important social policies e.g childcare, education, mental health etc. preferable to base decisions on science rather than politically motivated views e.g ONS describe themselves as being responsible for collecting, analysing and disseminating statistics about the UK’s economy, society and population

Question 7

When can socially sensitive research can be conducted inaccurately and still have lasting effects?

Answer 7

• e.g Burts research as the 11+ is still used today (Kent, Belfast) in which children take a test to decide whether they go to public school, grammar school etc. The decision was made by the government based on Burts twin studies which suggested inheritance was highly inheritable and could be detected by age 11
• A lot of his research was proven fake including to ‘imaginary’ research assistants and he was discredited. However, the idea that children should be separated based on natural intelligence, remained for years and still lingers.