Issues And Debates : Ethical Implications

Question 1

Ethical Implications

Answer 1

Ethical implications consider the impact or consequences that psychological
research has on the rights of other people in a wider context, not just the participants taking part in the research.

Question 2

Social Sensitivity

Answer 2

Sieber and Stanley (1988) used the term social sensitivity to describe studies where there are potential social consequences for the participants or the
group of people represented by the research.

Question 3

Example of ethical implications of research studies?

Answer 3

• Milgram’s (1963) research, you need to consider whether the ‘ends justify the means’. The participants were deceived and were unable to give fully informed consent.
• The experiment also caused significant distress, and the participants were told or coerced to continue against their will. On the other hand, the participants were debriefed after the experiment and a follow-up interview took place a year later. The outcome of these follow-up interviews suggested that the participants had suffered no long-term effects.

Question 4

Example of ethical implications of research theories?

Answer 4

• Bowlby’s Theory of Attachment suggests that children form one special attachment bond, usually with their mother, which must take place within a critical period. Bowlby also suggested that this attachment bond affects their future relationships through an internal working model.
• While Bowlby’s theory has contributed to the development of childcare practices, it has also encouraged the view that a women’s place is at home with her children, which could make some mothers feel guilty for wanting to return to work following childbirth.

Question 5

Who used the term social sensitivity to describe studies and why?

Answer 5

Sieber and Stanley (1988) used the term social sensitivity to describe studies where there are potential social consequences for the participants or the group of people represented by the research.
Sieber and Stanley (1988) identified four aspects in the scientific research process that raise ethical implications in socially sensitive research:

1. Research question
2. The methodology used
3. The institutional context
4. Interpretation and application of findings

Question 6

What is the research question?

Answer 6

The researcher must consider their research question carefully. Asking questions like ‘Are there racial differences in IQ?’ or ‘Is intelligence inherited?’ may be damaging to members of a particular group.

Question 7

What is the methodology used?

Answer 7

• The researcher needs to consider the treatment of the participants and their right to confidentiality and anonymity.
• For example, if someone admits to committing a crime, or to having unprotected sex if they are HIV positive, should the researcher maintain confidentiality?

Question 8

What is institutional context ?

Answer 8

The researcher should be mindful of how the data is going to be used and consider who is funding the research. If the research is funded by a private institution or organisation, why are they funding the research and how do they intend to use the findings

Question 9

What is the interpretation and application of findings?

Answer 9

Finally, the researcher needs to consider how their findings might be interpreted and applied in the real-world. Could their data or results be used to inform policy?

Question 10

What is deception?

Answer 10

this refers to self-deception, where the research may lead people to form false stereotypes (e.g. boys are better at maths than girls) that then becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Question 11

Sound and valid methodology?

Answer 11

findings from research with poor methodology may find their way into the public domain and therefore shape important social policy (see the Hadow Report above).

Question 12

Privacy?

Answer 12

some research may lead to social policies that are an invasion of people’s privacy. For example, AIDS research may lead to laws requiring certain people to undergo compulsory testing.

Question 13

Justice and Equitable Treatment

Answer 13

research interests, techniques or findings should not result in some people being treated unfairly, e.g. through creating unfavourable prejudices or withholding something favourable (e.g. an educational opportunity or a potentially beneficial treatment).

Question 14

Informed Consent

Answer 14

is important in any research, but especially so when it is socially sensitive.

Question 15

Confidentiality of Data

Answer 15

breaches of confidentiality in relation to sensitive issues could have far-reaching social and economic consequences.

Question 16

Scientific Freedom

Answer 16

censorship of scientific activity is usually thought to be unacceptable, but there are some kinds of research that should be, and researchers have an obligation not to harm their participants.

Question 17

Ownership of Data

Answer 17

problems here include the sponsorship of the research (e.g. a university department or commercial organisation) and who has access to the data. Certain findings in the wrong hands could be used to coerce, manipulate or
subjugate people.

Question 18

Values of Social Scientists

Answer 18

refers to the theoretical and personal beliefs of the scientist and psychologists and the need to recognise that research is not ‘value- free’. Different values can cause people to carry out research and interpret research findings differently.

Question 19

Risk/Benefit Ratio

Answer 19

risks and benefits may be much harder to assess in socially sensitive research, so it is
really important that they are considered carefully.

Question 20

What are ethics?

Answer 20

Concerns the question of right and wrong.

Question 21

What are ethical guidelines?

Answer 21

A set of principles set out by the BPS to help psychologists behave honestly and with integrity

Question 22

What are ethical issues and how are they caused?

Answer 22

Ethical guidelines cause ethical issues.
- Issues that arise when there is conflict between the rights of the participant and the aims of the researcher(s)

Question 23

How can research have ethical implications?

Answer 23

Effects of publication on wider public who may be represented by the research
• Potential use of the findings, e.g. political consequences
• Potential bias against people of certain cultures/socioeconomic
backgrounds or towards individual/social and ethnic groups
• Economic implications, eg for further psychological research, e.g. funding etc.

Question 24

What is socially sensitive research?

Answer 24

•Some areas of study in psychology are likely to be more controversial than others
•Socially sensitive research often confronts taboo topics, such as aspects of race, sexuality. They attract a lot of attention from other psychologists and from the media and general public
•However, just because research is socially sensitive does not mean it should not be conducted. Aronson, 1999, states psychologists have a ‘social responsibility’ to conduct socially sensitive research.