Ethics and Social Sensitivity

Question 1

ethical issues
(general consequence)

Answer 1

An ethical issue brings systems of morality and principles into conflict.

Question 2

identify the ethical issues

Answer 2

informed consent
deception
debrief
confidentiality
right to withdraw
protection from harm

Question 2

social sensitivity
(consequence for specific groups in society e.g. discrimination, politics and stereotypes)

Answer 2

Seiber and Stanley defined research or theory as socially sensitive where there are potential consequences for the group of people represented by the research.

Question 3

how researchers consider ethical implications in research.
also A03

Answer 3

researchers must consider the issues of reflexivity

1. the research question- don’t ask damaging questions e.g. ‘are there racial differences in IQ?’. Don’t misrepresent a group.
2. the methodology used- consider the treatment of participants and their right to confidentiality. Research should be submitted to ethics committee.
3. the institutional context- researchers should be mindful of how data is being used and who is funding research. How do they intend to use findings.
4. interpretation and application of findings- how are findings interpretated and applied to the real world. Conclusions objectively outlined and limitations clarified.

Question 4

who is effected by research?

Answer 4

1. the participants- being affected directly by taking part in research e.g. lack of protection from harm.
2. the public- being influenced by the publication of psychological findings e.g. reinforcement of stereotypes.
3. groups studied- may suffer bias or discrimination due to public awareness of harmful research, or self fulfilling prophecies.
4. government bodies- may use psychological findings to develop policies and legislation that are not in the interest of the researched group e.g. reduce funding.
5. social sensitivity- encompasses the above factors.

Question 5

other things to consider in research.

Answer 5

social implications: could the research create bias, racism, discrimination or reinforce harmful stereotypes?

uses and political change: what is the research going to be used for? weigh up the possible costs and benefits before conducting any research. could the findings be adapted in order to support certain political directions or public policies?

validity and interpretation of research: are the findings accurate or driven by bias? is the data correlational and presented as cause and effect evidence? will the interpretation of the findings have harmful consequences?

Question 6

how do we deal with it?
also A03

Answer 6

-submit research proposals to the ethics committee for peer review.
-does the ends justify the means?
-take steps to avoid prejudice and think about the presentation of your findings.
-be alert to the possible misuse of findings

Question 7

examples of applications to topics

Answer 7

Milgram’s obedience research and attitudes to people of different nationalities.

Bowlby’s research and the effects on child rearing/ working mothers.

diagnosis of depression SZ etc.

biological research into SZ, offending- issue of who is to blame e.g. if inherited. Schizophrenogenic mother.

Piaget’s research into discovery learning- changes in education system/ classroom practice.

Question 8

what should A03 focus on?

Answer 8

-whether a cost/ benefit is useful when trying to tackle research with possible ethical implications?

-the risk of not carrying out any socially sensitive research at all?

-the implications of doing the research both positive and negative.

Question 9

A03- cost/benefit

Answer 9

The costs of research may only become clear years after publication (e.g. Yerkes) so the initial cost/ benefit analysis isn’t always likely to be effective.
However, some may have short term costs for example Bowlby’s theory pf maternal deprivation but long term benefits such as changes to flexible working.

Question 10

A03- avoiding research

Answer 10

issues like sexuality ore gender are generally considered highly socially sensitive areas of investigation.
However if we avoid this these groups will remain unstudied in an objective way, 95% of non-sensitive proposals are approved but ‘sensitive’ proposals only approves 50% of the time. In fact potentially studying this could reduce prejudice and misconceptions in society e.g. the removal of homosexuality from the DSM-5.

Question 11

A03- negative implications

Answer 11

there are negative implications outlined earlier (stigma, policy etc of SS research. Psychologists must also play a role in reducing ethical implications because of their research e.g., genetic explanations of crime and the Mobley defence.