Ethical implications of research studies and theory

Question 1

Ethical implications definition

Answer 1

the consequences of any research in terms of their effect on individual participants or on the way in which certain groups are subsequently regarded
- there may also be consequences on a wider societal level

Question 2

social sensitivity definition

Answer 2

• Sieber and Stanley (1988)
• studies in which there potential consequences for implications, either directly for the participants in the research or for the class of individual represented by the research

Question 3

research question

Answer 3

• Seiber and Barbara (1988)
• warned 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 have be guilty of heterosexual bias where homosexual relations were compared and judged against heterosexual norms

Question 4

dealing with participants

Answer 4

• issues such as informed consent, confidentiality and psychological harm are important in socially sensitive research
• eg in a study on domestic about participants may worry that an ex partner will find out about the study
• is likely to be extremely stressful for the participant to describe their experiences
• such participants may provide informed consent at the state of the study but may not fully understand the effect of the research

Question 5

the way findings are used

Answer 5

• researchers should consider in advance how research findings may be used
• may impact on what data they collect
• findings from research may be seen as giving scientific credence to existing prejudice such as studies examining the ethnic basis of intelligence
• sensitive information is what the media tend to be interested in and will publicise

Question 6

strength of socially sensitive research

Answer 6

1. ## benefits for groups
2. real world application
   - The government looks to research when developing important social policies
   - decisions related to childcare, education, mental health provisions crime
   - preferable to base such polices on scientific research rather than politically motivated views
   - in the UK there are independent groups who are responsible for collecting analysing and disseminating objective statistics about the UK’s economy, society and population, such data is used in psychological reseach

Question 7

limitations

Answer 7

1. poor research design
   - poor research design may lead to erroneous findings which once in the public arena continue to have an impact
   - even when Burt’s research was exposed the 11+ continued to be used as a selection tool in parts of UK
   - access to many independent schools is based on child’s performance in an entrance exam taken in year 6 and is likely to be based on the same reasoning that genetic potential has revealed itself by this age
   - any research on socially sensitive topics needs to be planned with the greatest care to ensure that findings are valid because of the enduring effects on particular groups of people