issues and debates - ethical implications

Question 1

what are ethical guidelines

Answer 1

a set of principles set out by the BPS to help psychologists behave with honesty and integrity

Question 2

examples of ethical guidelines

Answer 2

informed consent
protection from harm
right to withdraw

Question 3

when do ethical issues arise ?

Answer 3

conflict between the rights of the participant and the aims of the researchers

Question 4

define ethical implications

Answer 4

the impact that psychological research may have in terms of the rights of other people, especially participants.
this includes at a societal level influencing public policy and or in the way which certain groups of people are regarded

Question 5

what is an example that can be used to explain ethical implications of studies ?

Answer 5

Milgrams (1963)

Question 6

what are the negative ethical implications of milgrams obedience study

Answer 6

participants deceived
unable to give fully informed consent .

experiment causes significant distress

participants were told or coerced to continue against their free will

Question 7

what are the positive ethical implications of milgrams obedience study

Answer 7

participants had suffered no long term effects

showed germans were not different - may have helped change the perception of those who followed hitler as evil

useful in reducing negative labels and understand how people can be made to obey

Question 8

what can be used as an example to explain ethical implications of theories

Answer 8

bowlby’s monotropic theory

Question 9

what did bowlbys theory suggest

Answer 9

children form one special attachment bond usually with their mothers - this bond affects future relationships though an internal working model

Question 10

what are the positive and negative ethical implications of bowlbys theory

Answer 10

positive - contributed to development of child care practices

negative - mothers feel guilty for wanting to return to work following childbirth

Question 11

define social sensitivity

Answer 11

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 12

how could milgrams study be classed as socially sensitive.

Answer 12

findings could be used to make people obey orders they do not want to follow

Question 13

how can bowlbys research be classed as socially sensitive

Answer 13

it could make mothers at at home out of guilt and fear of being judged by others

Question 14

what did sieber and stanley (1988) identify

Answer 14

4 aspects of the scientific research process that raise ethical implications in socially sensitive research

Question 15

what are the four aspects identified by sieber and stanley

Answer 15

1. the research question
2. the methodology used
3. the institutional context
4. interpretation and application of findings

Question 16

explain the research question

Answer 16

the researcher must consider the research questions carefully

asking questions like is intelligence inherited - damaging to members of a particular group

Question 17

explain the methodology used

Answer 17

• treatment of participants
• right to confidentiality
• anonymity

→ must all be considered

Question 18

explain institutional context

Answer 18

how is the data going to be used and consider who is funding the research.

Question 19

explain interpretation and application of findings

Answer 19

how will the findings be interpreted and applied in the real world.

eg could the data be used for scientific policy?

Question 20

explain cyril burts research and its implications

Answer 20

used identical twin studies to show intelligence was genetic.

→ influenced harrow report which led to creation of 11+ exam.

generations of children affected by 11+ exam even though burt may have falsified his research data

Question 21

what is a positive impact of ethical implications (benefit for unrepresented groups)

Answer 21

socially sensitive research → benefit to society.

promotes greater understanding for underrepresented groups.

eg the effect culture bias has on the diagnosis of schizophrenia with regards to auditory hallucinations experienced by African and west indies individuals.

reduces prejudice

encourages acceptance

positive outcomes of socially sensitive research

Question 22

what is a positive impact of ethical implications

(prevents miscarriages of justice)

Answer 22

socially sensitive research prevents miscarriages of justice.

eg unreliability of EWT specifically false imprisonment of Ronald cotton

shows how socially sensitive research plays valuable role in society

Question 23

what is a negative impact of socially sensitive research (discriminatory practices)

Answer 23

1920 and 1930 america - compulsory sterilisation took place of those deemed feeble minded

based on research that had suggested some people were unfit to breed.

ss research → used inappropriately to support discriminatory practices

Question 24

what is another negative impact on research with ethical implications (research used in the wrong)

Answer 24

government may start passing laws to prohibit certain kinds of research.eg race related research

as a result → real danger that research will be stopped for political rather than ethical reasons

benefits much outweigh the costs