Ethics And Socially Sensitive Research

Question 1

What is socially sensitive research?

Answer 1

Any research that might have direct social consequences for the participants in the research or the group that they represent

Question 2

How did Sieber and Stanley define ‘socially sensitive’?

Answer 2

“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”

Question 3

What are the 4 groups which Sieber and Stanley identify as being affected by psychological research?

Answer 3

1) Members of the social group being studied such as racial or ethnic group
2) Friends and relatives of those taking part in the study, particularly in case studies, where individuals may become famous or infamous
3) The research team
4) The institution in which the research is conducted

Question 4

What are the 4 main ethical concerns with SSR, according to Sieber and Stanley?

Answer 4

1) The research question or hypothesis
2) The treatment of individual participants
3) The institutional context
4) The way in which the findings of research are interpreted and applied

Question 5

What are ethical guidelines for carrying out SSR? What do they mean?

Answer 5

Privacy 
Confidentiality 
Sound and valid methodology
Deception 
Informed consent 
Justice and equitable treatment
Scientific freedom 
Ownership of data 
Values of social scientists 
Cost/benefit analysis

Question 6

What is privacy?

Answer 6

Refers to people rather than data, asking people questions of a personal nature may offend them

Question 7

What is confidentiality?

Answer 7

Refers to data. Leaked information may affect the lives of the participants

Question 8

What is sound and valid methodology?

Answer 8

More vital when the research topic is socially sensitive. Academics are able to detect flaws in method but the public and media often don’t, some people may take them as fact

Question 9

What is deception?

Answer 9

Causing the wider public to believe something, which isn’t true by the findings you report

Question 10

What is informed consent?

Answer 10

Participants should be made aware of how taking part in research may affect them

Question 11

What is justice and equitable treatment?

Answer 11

Examples of unjust treatment involve publicising an idea which creates prejudice about a group or withholding treatment from a group which you believe is beneficial so you can use them as a control

Question 12

What is scientific freedom?

Answer 12

Science should not be censored but there should be some monitoring of sensitive research. The researcher should weigh their responsibilities against their rights to do the research

Question 13

What is ownership of data?

Answer 13

Questioning whether research findings which could be used to make social policies which could affect people’s lives should be publicly accessible
Some people argue that scientists should be compelled to disclose their results so that other scientists can re-analyse the findings.

Question 14

What are the values of social scientists?

Answer 14

They can be divided into two main groups; those who advocate the humanistic approach and those who advocate a scientific approach. The researchers values may conflict with those of the participant/institution

Question 15

What is cost/benefit analysis?

Answer 15

If the cost outweighs the potential/actual benefits, it is unethical. However, it is difficult to assess costs and benefits accurately and the participants themselves rarely benefit from research

Question 16

What do Sieber and Stanley advise?

Answer 16

• Psychologists need to take more care over consent when the issue is sensitive
• They should be aware of how their findings may be interpreted and used by others
• They should make explicit the assumptions underlying their research
• They should make the limitations of their research explicit
• They should be careful how they communicate with the media and policymakers
• They should be aware of the balance between their obligations to participants and those to society
• They should be aware of their own values and biases of those of the participants

Question 17

What are arguments for SSR?

Answer 17

• Methods have been devised to resolve the issues raised
• SSR is the most scrutinised research in psychology
• By gaining a better understanding of issues we are able to gain a greater acceptance and reduce prejudice
• Benefit to society
• SSR helps us to be more aware of other cultures

Question 18

What are some arguments against SSR?

Answer 18

• Flawed research has been used to dictate social policy and put certain groups at a disadvantage
• Researche
• The guidelines lack power and as a result are unable to prevent indefensible research from being carried out