social sensitivity

Question 1

The term “socially-sensitive research” is applied to research linked to a controversial social issue. We use the word “sensitive” to refer to this type of research, because…

Answer 1

Bof the risk of harming society as a whole

Cof the risk of harming groups within society, such as women or ethnic minorities

Dof the risk of harming those involved in the research

Question 2

In summary, the first way that socially-sensitive research can be harmful is if the

Answer 2

In summary, the first way that socially-sensitive research can be harmful is if the research question lends credibility to damaging prejudices.

Question 3

Sieber and Stanley argue that there are two reasons why we should not avoid socially-sensitive research.

Answer 3

Sieber and Stanley argue that there are two reasons why we should not avoid socially-sensitive research.

Firstly, scientists have a moral obligation to continue to research these topics.

Furthermore, this research often has positive outcomes, so we should consider its risk / benefit ratio.

Question 4

BPS guidelines

Answer 4

Ethical issues which researchers must consider relating to the participants themselves

Question 5

Briefly explain what is meant by socially-sensitive research.

Answer 5

Socially-sensitive research refers to research linked to a controversial social issue, like poverty, sexuality, race or gender. Socially-sensitive research therefore risks harming groups within society, society as a whole, or those involved in the research.

Question 6

Question 3: Socially-sensitive research…

Answer 6

Bshould be considered carefully

Cmay cause harm if its findings are controversial

Dmay cause harm if its research question is controversial

Question 7

A researcher wants to investigate whether attitudes towards violence vary according to a person’s religious beliefs. Discuss the ethical implications of this research, with reference to social sensitivity. (8 marks)

Answer 7

Socially-sensitive research can be harmful, for example when the research question could make damaging prejudices seem credible, for example prejudices against certain religions. A study into whether attitudes towards violence vary according to a person’s religious beliefs would be socially-sensitive research, because it relates to a fierce controversy, which could enflame racial and cultural issues. Some people feel that those who claim that there is a link between religious beliefs and violence are motivated by prejudice against their race or their religious views. Therefore, research into the link between violence and religion may be seen as legitimising prejudices. Furthermore, the researchers themselves may be suspected of prejudice and subjected to harassment.

Some people argue that researchers should avoid studying issues like religion altogether, because simply studying them can risk causing harm, for example in this case, if the research found that those with strong religious views did indeed condone violence, this would lead people to blame religious people for acts of violence. It could lead to individuals being judged as a group, whether or not the generalisation is fair. 

However others argue that scientists have a moral duty to research socially-sensitive topics. Therefore we need to consider carefully the impact of research questions like the links between attitudes to violence and religion, because sometimes socially sensitive research has positive effects. For example, if researchers continue to research the relationship between religion and attitudes towards violence, which could eventually lead to better understanding, or a more unified outcome.

Question 8

When participants give written agreement to take part in the study, and fully understand what the study involves.

Answer 8

Informed consent

Question 9

. When researchers communicate to participants that they have a right to quit the study at any point.

Answer 9

Right to withdraw

Question 10

When researchers must make sure that the participants are in no more physical and emotional harm than they would be in their normal, everyday life.

Answer 10

Protection from harm

Question 11

. When researchers keep the identity of their participants anonymous.

Answer 11

Confidentiality

Question 12

When participants are told things that aren’t actually true.

Answer 12

Deception

Question 13

Explain why confidentiality is important in the following example.

Researchers are studying behaviours and attitudes towards AIDS. When they analyse their results, they notice that at one particular clinic, 82% of patients were there to be treated for AIDS. Explain why confidentiality is important in this case.

Answer 13

It may cause embarrassment and harm for individuals to be identified as having AIDS. If the researchers publish information which allows people to infer that anyone seen entering or leaving a particular clinic probably has AIDS, this could cause embarrassment for those clinic’s patients. This is because there has historically been stigma and embarrassment associated with AIDS.

Question 14

Sieber and Stanley’s 2nd or second consideration is the

Answer 14

conduct of research and treatment of participants.


Question 15

Sieber and Stanley’s 2nd or second consideration is the conduct of research and treatment of participants.

For example,
milgram

Answer 15

Sieber and Stanley’s 2nd or second consideration is the conduct of research and treatment of participants.

For example, confidentiality is especially important when it comes to socially-sensitive research, not only for participants, but also their relatives, in some cases.

However, socially-sensitive research also sometimes involves situations where researchers must break confidentiality in order to prevent harm .
For example, we’ve already seen that Milgram used
For example, we’ve already seen that Milgram used deception to make participants believe they were administering fatal electrical shocks.

Question 16

Sieber and Stanley argue that social sensitivity makes it especially important for researchers to consider the conduct of research and the treatment of participants.

Answer 16

Sieber and Stanley argue that social sensitivity makes it especially important for researchers to consider the conduct of research and the treatment of participants. 

For example, Milgram ’s use of deception has been heavily criticised, because following orders that are evil is a socially-sensitive issue.

However, 99% of the participants did not regret taking part because they believed that the findings were of significant benefit to the world.

Furthermore, researchers can reduce the risks of methods like these by sensitively debriefing their participants.

Question 17

Question 2: In the Koluchova twins case study, a pair of twin boys, had been locked away, starved and beaten by their step mother from 18 months of age. They were finally rescued at the age of 7. The twins were severely cognitively, emotionally and behaviourally impaired. When the twins were rescued, they were adopted into a loving, caring family and by the time they were adults, the twins were living happy, fulfilled lives.

Explain why confidentiality is especially important here, making reference to social sensitivity

Answer 17

When research investigates child abuse, like Koluchova’s research, this is particularly socially-sensitive. If the participants don’t stay anonymous, and the results confidential, then publishing the research may be a huge violation of privacy, which would be harmful. The twins could be stigmatised or treated differently if people knew that they were the subjects of this high-profile study. 

The confidentiality of their neglectful caregivers should also be maintained, because they may be subject to extreme anger or abuse. Therefore it is important to ensure confidentiality.

Question 18

Discuss whether Milgram was justified in using deception

Answer 18

Milgram used deception to make participants believe they were administering fatal electrical shocks. Milgram’s results suggested that most of us would participate in acts that we condemn as evil without being forced to. Milgram received a lot of criticism from people who were angry that he had got these results by deceiving his participants, particularly because the results were socially sensitive.



However, only 1% of the participants regretted taking part, despite the fact that they were deceived, because they thought that Milgram’s findings were important. This suggests that Milgram’s study did more good than harm, because it warned us of how powerful authority figures can be.

Question 19

Question 4: How could researchers repeating Milgram’s experiment today deal with the issue of social sensitivity? [1 mark]

Answer 19

Researchers repeating Milgram’s experiment should carefully debrief the participants, explaining the deception and why it was justified.

Question 20

So, to sum up, Sieber and Stanley’s third consideration for socially-sensitive research is its

Answer 20

institutional context.

Question 21

So, to sum up, Sieber and Stanley’s third consideration for socially-sensitive research is its
institutional context.

Researchers could reduce the risks of socially-sensitive

Answer 21

Researchers could reduce the risks of socially-sensitive research by committing to publish all of their results, as the all trails campaign aims to do for medical trails. 

This would stop institutions like private companies from publishing only the results which increase their profits.

Question 22

Sieber and Stanley’s four considerations for socially-sensitive research mean that researchers…

Answer 22

Bneed to consider whether their research could be interpreted or applied in a way that they believe is unethical.

Cshould weigh up the risks and benefits of their research.

Dcould end up altering their methods in a way that reduces the validity of their results.

Emay undermine trust in the objectivity of research.

Fmust try to make predictions about future uses of their research.

Question 23

How can researchers reduce the risk of socially-sensitive research being misinterpreted?

Answer 23

Researchers can reduce the risk of socially-sensitive research being misinterpreted by engaging with policymakers and the media. In particular, they should explain the meaning of the research, its limitations, and its underlying assumptions.