Ethical Implications Of Research Studies And Theory Flashcards
How does conflict cause ethical issues?
Ethical issues arise when there is conflict between:
- Psychology’s need for valid and valuable research.
- Preserving the rights and dignity of participants.
Why are wider ethical implications of research hard to predict?
Researchers can control the methods they use and how they treat participants.they have less influence on how findings are presented in the media, how their work impacts public policy and how it affects perception of some groups in society.
What are the potential social implications of socially sensitive research?
Implications made are either directly for the participants in research or the class of individuals represented by the research. For example:
- Research investigating genetic basis of criminality might have far-reaching consequences for those who take part or for the broader social groups the participants represent.
- Studies that tackle socially sensitive ‘taboo’ topics such as race or sexuality attract attention from the public.
Why should psychologists not avoid socially sensitive research?
Some forms of research are socially sensitive but psychologists should not ‘shy away’ from them. Because of the importance of such research, psychologists may have a social responsibility to carry it out.
What do concerns for socially sensitive research include?
Sieber and Stanley have identified:
- Implications: some studies may give ‘scientific status’ to prejudice and discrimination (difficult to predict at outset).
- Uses/public policy: what would happen if it was used for the wrong purpose? Findings may be adopted by the government for political ends or to shape public policy.
- Validity of research: some findings presented as objective in the past turned out to be fraudulent.
How has research on IQ had a consequence for U.K. school children?
Burt was a leading psychologist influential in establishing the 11+ examination in the U.K. This was used to decide whether children could go to grammar school based on their ‘natural’ intelligence (with a significant impact on life opportunities). Burt’s view was that intelligence is genetic, based on his studies of twin studies showing a heritability coefficient of +77. But discrepancies in the data showed he made much of the data up, and invented two research assistants. He was publicly discredited but the 11+ (and the related public policy) remained for many years.
Strength: benefits of socially sensitive research.
It has been argued that studies of under-represented groups and issues may promote greater understanding to help reduce prejudice and encourage acceptance. Socially sensitive research has benefitted society (e.g. Research into unreliability of eyewitness testimony has reduced the risk of miscarriages of injustice within the legal system. This suggests that socially sensitive research may play a valuable role in society.
Strength: understanding how to frame questions.
It has been warned that how research questions are phrased and investigated may influence the ways findings are interpreted. Research into so-called ‘alternative relationships’ has been guilty of ‘heterosexual bias’ -homosexual relationships were judged against heterosexual norms. This suggests that investigators must approach their research with an ‘open mind’ and be prepared to have their preconceptions challenged to avoid misrepresenting minority groups.
Strength: understanding potential damage from socially sensitive research.
Socially sensitive research has been used by governments and other institutions to shape social policy, despite the sometimes dubious nature of the findings (e.g. Burt’s research into IQ). Packard claimed that sales of Coca-Cola and popcorn increased when images of the products were flashed on cinema screens too quickly for audiences to be aware of them. Packard had made his findings up. Research that seeks to manipulate the public has obvious ethical implications. It also raises the question of who benefits from such research - which may be particularly difficult to manage once the research is published.
Limitation of socially sensitive research: it may be used for social control.
In the 1920s and 30s a large number of US states enacted legislation that led to the compulsory sterilisation of many of its citizens. These people were judged to be ‘feeble-minded’ and a drain on society (e.g. Those of ‘low intelligence’, drug/alcohol addicts and the mentally ill). Some psychologists argued they were ‘unfit to breed’. The fact that socially sensitive research has been used to ‘prop up’ discriminatory practices in the past is an argument against its widespread adoption.
Limitation: costs and benefits may be difficult to predict.
Research that carries ethical implications (or is socially sensitive) is scrutinised by an ethics committee - it is their job to weigh up the costs and benefits of the research. However some of the social consequences of research involving vulnerable groups may be difficult to anticipate. Assessments of the ‘worth’ of such research are typically sensitive, and the real impact of research can only ever be known once it has been made public.
What is confirmation bias?
Only paying attention to things which confirm your beliefs, e.g. using evidence that men are more intelligent as women as scientific justification for sexism.
What is publication bias?
This is when any negative research is ignored and only positive research published.
