Socially sensitive research

Question 1

What is socially sensitive research?

Answer 1

• Socially sensitive research is research that has negative implications for the ppts and/or for the group they represent beyond the study itself
• Implications in research include:
• Focusing on the ppts
• Those close to the ppt
• Those in the group represented in the study
• The researchers themselves

Question 2

What did Sieber and Stanely look at?

Answer 2

• Used the term social sensitivity to describe studies where there are potential social consequences for the ppts, or the group of people represented by the research
• They identified 4 aspects in the scientific research process that raise ethical implications in socially sensitive research

Question 3

How can the research question be socially sensitive?

Answer 3

• 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 groups’

Question 4

How can the methodology used be socially sensitive

Answer 4

• The researcher needs to consider the treatment of the participants and their right to CONFIDENTIALITY and ANONYMITY
• For example, if the someone admits to committing a crime, should the researcher maintain confidentiality
• However in COGNITIVE and BIOLOGICAL psychology they use case studies that are rare events and therefore even with a pseudonym (fake name) the individual may still be identifiable
• Milgram is another good example because he keeps video footage of the participants that is available of the study
• This is a problem is the findings turn out to have repercussions for the participant

Question 5

How is the institutional context socially sensitive?

Answer 5

• 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, the funding might give publication
• BIOLOGICAL = pharmaceutical companies fund research looking into the effectiveness of drug therapies lead to publication bias
• SOCIAL = The political background of organisations funding research may support differences towards ethnic minorities
• CLINICAL = the APA (American psychological association) should not be funding research into the validity of the DSM because it produces income for them

Question 6

How is the interpretation and application of findings socially sensitive?

Answer 6

• 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 7

How is Socially sensitive research seen in social?

Answer 7

• RWA and SDO personality are more prejudice as Cohrs suggested
• This is the same with Adorno and the authoritarian personality
• People might turn against those with that personality
• Racism and cultural issues seen in obedience and prejudice and this might have an impact on the participants

Question 8

What is a study in social that is socially sensitive?

Answer 8

• Milgram’s research found the presence of the authority figure increases blind obedience so removal of an authority figure could reduce the possibility of blind obedience and possible atrocities from occurring.
• This is helping the participants in the long term but it was harmful to them initially

Question 9

How is social sensitivity seen in Sherif et al?

Answer 9

RESEARCH QUESTION:
The phrasing of the research question needs to be about the role of competition rather than focusing on the prejudice of the participants

METHODOLOGY:
because information about the participant was kept anonymous so the participants were not identifiable
NOT SS

INSTITUTION:
The political background of organisations funding research may support differences towards ethnic minorities e.g. political parties that have racist views

Question 10

What is the COUNTER ARGUEMENT (findings and benefit to society) of Sherif?

Answer 10

FINDINGS:
The awareness that superordinate goals could be implemented to reduce prejudice – The jigsaw classroom (Aronson and Bridgeman)

Question 11

How is social sensitive research seen in cognitive?

Answer 11

It would be socially sensitive if with case studies pseudonyms were not used because that way the participant would not anonymous so this could lead to distress
- Sebastian and Hernandez-Gil may be more sensitive as they looked at older people and found that they had a digit span similar to 7 year olds, may be upsetting

Question 12

How is socially sensitive research seen in Baddeley?

Answer 12

RESEARCH QUESTION:
The focus on encoding makes Baddeley’s research question NOT SOCIALLY SENSITIVE

METHODOLOGY:
information about the participant was kept anonymous so the participants were not identifiable
NOT SS

INSTITUTION:
Not SS

Question 13

What is the COUNTER ARGUEMENT (findings and benefit to society) of Baddeley?

Answer 13

Baddeley’s work on encoding can be applied to how you revise e.g. mindmaps and not having music playing with words.

Question 14

What is socially sensitive about Biological?

Answer 14

RAINE = research discovering brain differences in murderers and non-murderers can lead to those convicted of murder attempting to absolve blame for their crimes and sometimes successfully reducing their sentence. This can be problematic for the general public

Question 15

What is another example of SS research in Biological?

Answer 15

Studies that show genetic predispositions to aggressive behaviour can help identify vulnerable people and help them avoid maltreatment that could lead to violent actions and possible crimes.

Question 16

What is socially sensitive about Raine?

Answer 16

RESEARCH QUESTION:
Saying that brain structure is the cause of aggression suggests that the murderers couldn’t help their aggression and that it was deterministic
However Raine et al did say that it shouldn’t be used to mitigate sentences

METHODOLOGY:
because information about the participant was kept anonymous so the participants were not identifiable
NOT SS

INSTITUTION:
Pharmaceutical companies fund research looking into the effectiveness of drug therapies lead to publication bias and might use it for aggression

Question 17

What is the COUNTER ARGUEMENT (findings and benefit to society) of Raine?

Answer 17

Important in identifying what biological evidence does and does not tell us. For example it doesn’t tell us any social contexts. It is a partial explanation

Question 18

What is socially sensitive in Learning?

Answer 18

• Aversion therapy uses classical conditioning principles to get rid of unwanted behaviours
• It was used to ‘cure’ homosexuality as an alternative to prison sentencing. It is unethical and open to abuse
• Consenting to aversion therapy under pressure to have treatment

Question 19

What is positive about this SS research?

Answer 19

• Assocation of unpleasant stimulus with unwanted behaviours, e.g. paedophile conditioned to fear children rather than sexual arousal
• Acceptable if performed with the offender’s consent and counselling,

Question 20

What is SS about W+R?

Answer 20

RESEARCH QUESTION:
We need to be careful about not delegitimising people’s phobias as you can ‘just get rid of them’ in the phrasing of this question. This is because phobias can be debilitating, and this is undermining the individuals experience

METHODOLOGY:
There is footage of little Albert available which means that it is not confidential
IS SS

INSTITUTION:
Not SS

Question 21

What is the COUNTER ARGUEMENT (findings and benefit to society) of W+R?

Answer 21

Developing effective therapies based on the understanding that phobias are acquired through classical conditioning e.g. SD

Question 22

What is socially sensitive about criminal?

Answer 22

Research into jury compositions and trials show that there is potential bias in the courts, which can lead to a lack of faith in the criminal justice system and may prevent people from reporting crimes as they could fear a miscarriage of justice.

Bradbury and Williams (2013) investigated juror decision-making and found black defendants are more likely to be judged as guilty by mostly a white or Hispanic jury.

Question 23

What should the research into this be used for instead?

Answer 23

Psychological research into jury decision-making should be used to prevent miscarriages of justice from happening so all defendants receive a fair trial by ensuring the composition of the jury enables this to happen.

Question 24

What is socially sensitive about clinical psychology? (positive)

Answer 24

Rosenhan (1973) sent pseudopatients into hospitals in America and reported that mental health patients were being ignored and abused whilst in the care of the hospitals.

Research into mental health hospitals can help reduce the likelihood of misdiagnosis which could lead to inappropriate treatment for the patients and hopefully help them recover quicker and more effectively.

Question 25

What else is socially sensitive about clinical psychology? (negative)

Answer 25

Drugs are commonly used for mental health issues, such as OCD, Autism or Schizophrenia, and change the neurotransmitter levels and can lead to reductions in symptoms.

Drugs for mental health issues could be seen as a ‘chemical straightjacket’ where symptoms are removed but may prevent clear thinking and decision-making with sedative properties certain drugs.

Question 26

What is socially sensitive about Rosenhan?

Answer 26

RESEARCH QUESTION:
We need to be careful with the question so that the public still trust clinical professionals

METHODOLOGY:
He hospitals that were used in the study were kept anonymous
HOWEVER Rosenhan might need to break confidentially to report the abuse scene in some of the hospitals and therefore there might be a moral dilemma
NOT SS

INSTITUTION:
The APA (American psychological association) should not be funding research into the validity of the DSM because it produces income for them

Question 27

What is the COUNTER ARGUEMENT (findings and benefit to society) of Rosenhan?

Answer 27

Revisions of the DSM/ led to changes in the DSM-III and critical reforms to the diagnostic process