Issues and debates: Ethical implications of research studies and theory Flashcards
What are ethical implications
The impact that psychological research may have in terms of the rights of other people, especially participants.
This includes, at a social level, influencing public policy and/or the way in which certain groups of people are regarded.
What’s socially sensitive research?
Any research that might have direct social consequence for the ppts in the research or the group that they represent.
Psychologists have a responsibility to carry out socially sensitive research.
Why are wider ethical implications of research hard to predict?
Researchers can control the methods they use and how they treat participants.
They have less influence on how findings are presented in the media, how their work impacts public policy and how it affects the perception of some groups in society.
Why should psychologists not avoid socially sensitive research?
Some forms of research are socially insensitive but psychologists should not ‘shy away’ from them.
Because of the importance of such research, psychologists may have a social responsibility to carry it out.
What are the conflicting factors that create ethical issues?
1) Psychology’s need for valid and valuable research.
2) Preserving the rights and dignity of participants.
What are the concerns for socially sensitive research identified by Sieber and Stanley?
Implications, public policy and validity
What is the research process by which ethical issues with social consequences occur?
The research question
Conduct research and treatment of ppts
The institutional context
Interpretation and application of findings
What are the ethical issues in socially sensitive research?
Privacy
Confidentiality
Valid methodology
Deception
Informed consent
Equitable treatment
Scientific freedom
Ownership of data
Values
cost-benefit analysis
AO3 Ethical implications
+RLA
-The wider impact of research
-The inadequacy of current ethical guidelines
-May disadvantage marginalised groups
(+AO3) RLA
Not all socially sensitive research is controversial, and some findings can be desirable and beneficial to society. Research examining the use of children in eye-witness testimony has found them to be reliable witnesses when questioned in an appropriate manner.
In this context, socially sensitive research has resulted in a good working relationship between psychologists and the legal profession
(-AO3) Wider impact
Even with socially sensitive research, there is a potential for an indirect impact on the participant’s family and coworkers, which may not be taken into account. Therefore it does not seem sufficient to simply safeguard the interests of the individual participants. This matters because socially sensitive research should also take into account the wide impact of the research including the implications of the research for the wider society.
(-AO3) The inadequacy of current ethical guidelines
One issue with the current ethical guidelines is the research may inflict harm on a group of people in society. While ethical guidelines may protect the immediate needs of research participants, they may not deal with the other ways that research may inflict harm on people in society. For example, the current ethical guidelines do not ask researchers to consider how their research may be used by others or could form/shape social policy. This matters because Sieber and Stanley recommended that researchers should consider this within the interpretation and application of their finding
(-AO3) Marginalised groups
Suffered consequences of exclusion+ and misrepresentation. Understanding of human behaviour lessened by misinterpretations of/ failure to include representative samples of persons w/ disabilities, and the elderly. Additional ethical issue- miss out on potential benefits. E.g Bell curve waste of resources to improve educational opportunities for disadvantaged groups, genetically destined low, achievers
