Socially Sensitive Research

Question 1

What is socially sensitive research?

Answer 1

Research that has negative implications for the participants and those they represent

Question 2

How is Rosenhan (1973) an example of socially sensitive research?

Answer 2

The participants couldn’t recognise good mental health. Implies those beyond th study can’t either

Question 3

How is Milgram (1963) an example of socially sensitive research?

Answer 3

Those that went to full voltage - sensitive for them and wider society. Would have been even more sensitive if it was found that the Germans were different.

Question 4

What is an example of socially sensitive research?

Answer 4

An instructor sent students out to experiment with personal space. One student sat thigh to thigh with a man and they pulled out a knife.

Question 5

How can research be socially sensitive?

Answer 5

• The topic if it is a socially undesirable behaviour
• The way participants are gathered
• Snowball sampling
• What surveys are asked and who they are sent to e.g survey about childcare shouldn’t be sent to a parent with a dead child
• Qualitative research often involves researcher investing in ppts lives

Question 6

How is Raine (1997) socially sensitive?

Answer 6

Aimed to reduce the sentence of NGRIs. Victims may not get justice. Raises questions about screening people to see if they become aggressive

Question 7

How is Becker (1998) socially sensitive?

Answer 7

Topic is eating disorders. About a specific culture. Distressing for ppts. Blames Western world for eating disorders

Question 8

How is Sherif (1954/61) socially sensitive?

Answer 8

Showed that anyone can be prejudiced as the boys simply became prejudiced over competition. Regularly attended summer camp - likely to have has natural hostility at some point

Question 9

How is Burger (2009) socially sensitive?

Answer 9

Less than Milgram. Only went to 150V and 15V sample shock but still found same conclusions today.

Question 10

How is Pavlov (1927) socially sensitive?

Answer 10

Animal research - should animals be involved in research? Potentially could be used as a method of social control - classical conditioning

Question 11

How are treatments like aversion therapy, flooding, systematic dessensitisation and token economy socially sensitive?

Answer 11

Could be used as a method of social control. Flooding very intense = distressing. Token economy manipulates behaviour. Aversion therapy unethical.

Question 12

How is research by Caughy (1994) regarding daycare socially sensitive?

Answer 12

Found that middle class children put in daycare at an early age generally score less on cognitive tests than children from similar familied reared from home. Implications,

Question 13

Why is socially sensitive research important?

Answer 13

• Can gain greater understanding over key issues in society like prejudice
• EWT
• Most research carried out on white middle class Americans (90%) SSR is helping change this

Question 14

Why isn’t socially sensitive research good?

Answer 14

• Flawed research used to dictate social policy

- Has been used to discriminate against groups

Question 15

How is Guidmond et al (2013) socially sensitive?

Answer 15

Implies that Germans are prejudiced. May create stereotypes and prejudice against Germans.

Question 16

How is Adorno et al (1950) prejudiced?

Answer 16

Implies some parents create children to be affected by blind obedience. Parents may feel as if they are bad parents.

Question 17

Why is research into Alzheimers and Dementia socially sensitive?

Answer 17

Participants are vulnerable. If snowball smapling used, must be able to decline. Could scare people into thinking they have symptoms

Question 18

Why are case studies for brain damaged patients socially sensitive?

Answer 18

Distressing for the family. May build a relationship. May become too invested. May not be able to fully consent.

Question 19

How is Sebastian and Hernandez Gil (2012) socially sensitive?

Answer 19

Initially findings suggest that the Spanish have less capacity in the phonological loop.

Question 20

How is Watson and Rayner (1920) socially sensitive?

Answer 20

Classically conditioned fear into a baby and didn’t remove it. Purposely distressed Albert. Could be used as social control. Shows how CC works in humans

Question 21

How can harm be minimised regarding socially sensitive information?

Answer 21

• Consider consequences of location and identities involved
• Consider language used to report findings
• Describe cultural context to unflattering/private characteristics
• Whether revalations are worth the risk

Question 22

What issues relate to socially sensitive research?

Answer 22

• Media and general public attention
• How the research question is formulated
• How research is conducted and how ppts are treated
• Context and setting
• Interpretation and how findings are used

Question 23

How is research into obedience socially sensitive?

Answer 23

Shows how obedience can be created. Could be created for the wrong reasons.

Question 24

How is Hofling’s study of nurses socially sensitive?

Answer 24

21/22 nurses adminstered a lethal dosage of an unknown drug to a patient without proper authorisation, many reported the study after as unhappy about being a ppt without knowing

Question 25

How are the gain’s of Hofling’s research greater than the issues?

Answer 25

It was essential for society to realise that the doctor-nurse relationship was flawed and that procedures needed to be put in place when training nurses to prevent it reoccurring.

Question 26

How is research into aggression socially sensitive?

Answer 26

Raises questions of whether we should screen people to see if they are predisposed to aggression. Questions over responsibility of criminals.

Question 27

Why is studying mental health socially sensitive?

Answer 27

The research involves labelling people with an illness in order to then investigate the possible causes or treatments. Sensitive due to reliability and validty. Cultural issues.

Question 28

How is research by Littlewood and Lipsedge socially sensitive?

Answer 28

Suggests that black and Irish more likely to be diagnosed with schizophrenia - specific cultural groups

Question 29

How is research by Nicholls socially sensitive?

Answer 29

Suggests 50% of those with eating disorders don’t get diagnosed - socially sensitive subject matter - eating disorder

Question 30

How is research by Brown (1986) socially sensitive?

Answer 30

Suggests family play a role in the development of depression

Question 31

How is Veling (2008) socially sensitive?

Answer 31

Implies that low ethnic density can make someone vulnerable to schizophrenia

Question 32

How is Hjem (2008) socially sensitive?

Answer 32

Suggests that poverty links to schizophrenia

Question 33

How is Wen and Wen (2014) socially sensitive?

Answer 33

Implies those of a higher socioeconomic status are more likely to have children with autism

Question 34

How is Bailey et al (1985) socially sensitive?

Answer 34

Found 60% concordance for autism, implies there could be screenings - potentially terminating pregnancy

Question 35

How is Li et al (2013) socially sensitive?

Answer 35

Suggests HQ daycare is better, HQ daycare likely to be more expensive, implies those who can’t afford it are going to be disadvantaged

Question 36

How is research into attachment socially sensitive?

Answer 36

Blames rejecting or inconsistent parents for creating insecure attachments through poor bonding. Considerable issue gien post natal depressio, puts pressure on mothers