**L7 - Ethical Implications of Psychological Research Flashcards
what is socially sensitive research?
SIEBER and STANLEY used the term socially sensitive to describe research where the topic area and/or group being studied ca have implications for society or certain groups within society. This research could potentially lead to a change in the way these groups are treated or perceived.
what did SIEBER and STANLEY argue?
SIEBER and STANLEY argued that scientists have a RESPONSBILITY for the way in which their research will be used in the future.
what did SIEBER and STANLEY identify?
SIEBER and STANLEY identified FOUR ASPECTS in the scientific research process that raise ETHICAL IMPLICATIONS in socially sensitive research
what were the four aspects identified by sieber and stanley?
1) the RESEARCH QUESTION - the researcher must consider their research question carefully. They need to consider the impacts of asking a potentially invasive or offensive question
2) the METHODOLOGY used - the researcher needs to consider the treatment of the pps and their RIGHT TO CONFIDENTIALITY and ANONYMITY.
3) the INSTITUTIONAL CONTEXT - the researcher should be mindful of how the data is going to be used, who is funding it, and what it might be used for
4) INTERPRETATION and APPLICATION OF FINDINGS - finally the researcher needs to consider how their findings might be interpreted and APPLIED TO THE REAL WORLD.
+ RESEARCH SHOULD BE SOCIALLY SENSITIVE
psychologists should conduct SOCIALLY SENSITIVE RESEARCH because many groups in society have suffered the consequences of being EXCLUDED from RESEARCH, or being MISINTERPRETED WHEN THEY HAVE BEEN INCLUDED.
Our understanding of human behaviour has been lessened by misinterpretations and failure to represent certain groups within research (such as those with disabilities, the elderly, women). This has ethical implications because these people miss out on the benefits of psychological resarch.
+ ETHICAL GUIDELINES
psychologists deal with ethical isues in socially sensitive research by developing ETHICAL GUIDELINES. However, ethical guidelines protect the IMMEDIATE NEEDS OF PPS but dont deal with all of the possible ways in which research may inflict harm on A GROUP OF PEOPLE OR SECTION OF SOCIETY.
For example, ethical guidelines dont ask psychologists to consider how their research may be used by others (as recommended by SIEBER and STANLEY)
+ TAKING RESPONSIBLITY
in order to reduce the likelihood that data is MISHANDLED, psychologists should be proactive in taking resposnsiblity for what happens to their findings. They should be aware that the results of their research may lead to abuse or discrimination
+ SHOULN’T AVOID RESPONSBILITY
it has been suggested that socially sensitive research should be avoided all together to prevent the POTENTIAL NEGATIVE consequences for certain groups of people.
However, this would probably leave psychologists with only UNIMPORTANT ISSUES to examine. Sieber and Stanley’s view is hat avoiding controversial topics is also avoiding responsibility, therefore psychologists have a duty to conduct research
- SOCIAL CONSEQUENCES
however, there are always some social consequences from psychological research, but with SOCIALLY SENSITIVE research there is always the INCREASED POTENTIAL for a more INDIRECT IMPACT on the group that the pp represents, its not sufficient to simply safeguard the interests of individual pps.
