Ethics and Social Sensitivity Flashcards
What is the meaning of ethical implications?
-The impact that psychological research may have in terms of the rights of other peopleespecially participants.
-This includes, at a societal level, influencing public policy
and/or the way in whichcertain groups of people are regarded.
Ethical guidelines were established to help protect those involved in research. What may be more
difficult to guard against, however, is the social impact of psychological research once it has been
conducted. Although researchers may exercise considerable control over the methods they select
and the way theytreat participants, they may have relatively little say in terms of how their research
findings are represented in the media,
What is the meaning of social sensitivity?
Sieber and Stanley (1988) define socially sensitive research as studies in which
there are potential consequences or implications, either directly for the participants in the
research or for the class of individuals represented by the research
Clearly, some areas of research are likely to be more controversial, and be subject to greater social
sensitivity, than others. Studies that tackle socially sensitive 'taboo' topics, such as aspects of race
orsexuality, attract attention from the media and the public at large.
Name 5 ethical issues
- Privacy: This refers to people, rather than data. Asking people questions of a personal
nature (e.g. about sexuality) could offend. - Confidentiality:This refers to data. Information (e.g. about H.I.V. status), leaked to others,
may affect the participant’s life.
Deception: Causing the wider public to believe something, which isn’t true by the findings,
you report
Informed consent: Participants should be made aware of how taking part in the research
may affect them.
Cost/benefit analysis: If the costs outweigh the potential/actual benefits, it is unethical.
However, it is difficult to assess costs & benefits accurately & the participants themselves
rarely benefit from research.
