Issues and Debates: Ethical Implications

Question 1

what are the British psychological guidelines (Mnemonic?)

Answer 1

• Consent = Can
• deception = Do
• confidentiality / privacy = Can’t
• debrief = Do
• withdrawal = Without
• protection = Participants

Question 2

What are ethical implications and give an example

Answer 2

• the way research impacts on those who participate and the impact of the research findings on the wider society.
• Some studies may give scientific credence to prejudice and discrimination.
• E.g. Goddard’s IQ study implies certain races are less intelligent -> creates stereotypes.

Question 3

What is socially sensitive research (Sieber and Stanley)

Answer 3

• Sieber and Stanley = there are potential consequence or implications, either directly for the
  participants involved in the research or for the class of individuals represented by the research.”
• E.g.
  -> Bowlby/Ainsworth -> impact on mothers and their work choices.
  -> Explanations of obedience -> Holocaust survivors.

Question 4

What are the potential ethical issues in socially sensitive research (3) (Sieber and Stanley)

Answer 4

• Sieber and Stanley (1988) identified three concerns researchers should be mindful of when conducting socially sensitive research:
  -> implications
  -> uses / public policy
  -> Validity of the research

Question 5

What are uses / public policy (ethical issues) (Cyril Burt)

Answer 5

• The researcher needs to consider the research and what purpose it could be used for.
• How it could be used for political ends to shape public policy.
• E.g.
  -> Cyril Burt used studies of identical twins to support his view that intelligence is largely genetic.
  -> his view greatly influenced the Hadow Report (1926) which led to the creation of the 11+ which was used from 1944-1976.
  -> This meant that generations of children were affected by the 11+ exam.
  -> it later transpired that his data was falsified.

Question 6

What is validity of research (ethical issues)

Answer 6

• Although research is supposed to be objective this is not always the case.
• researcher should be mindful of how the data is going to be used and consider who is funding the research.
  -> e.g. a medical company pays you to do research, you may be biased towards what they want you to find.

Question 7

(+) Explain the strengths of Sieber and Stanley’s guidelines

Answer 7

• considerations outlined by Sieber and Stanley provide a mechanism to safeguard individuals who are indirectly affected by psychological research.
  -> Because of the problems associated with socially sensitive research, it is not sufficient to simply safeguard the interests of the participants taking part in the research.

Question 8

(+) explain how there are benefits with socially sensitive research (Scarr)

Answer 8

• Scarr (1988) argues that studies of under-represented groups and issues may promote greater understanding to help reduce prejudice and encourage acceptance.
• Socially sensitive research can benefit society as a whole – for example, research into unreliability of EWT has reduced the risk of miscarriages of justice within the legal system.

Question 9

(-) Explain how socially sensitive research can be used to justify social control

Answer 9

• The fact that socially sensitive research has been used to ‘prop up’ discriminatory practices in the past is an argument against its widespread adoption.
• For example, between 1907-1963 over 64,000 people were forcibly sterilised under eugenic legislation in the US.
• This could be ‘justified’ by research findings which argued that black Americans had lower IQ scores in comparison to white people highlighting a serious issue with socially sensitive research.

Question 10

(-) explain how ethical issues with socially sensitive research may be difficult to anticipate

Answer 10

• Although potential research is scrutinised by an ethics committee, some of the consequences of research involving vulnerable groups might be difficult to anticipate.
• Assessments of the ‘worth’ of such research are typically subjective and the real impact of the research can only ever be known once it has been made public.
• May be particularly difficult to manage once the research is ‘out there’.