socially sensitive research and ethical implication

Question 1

socially sensitive research

Answer 1

• studies in which there are potential social consequences
• either directly for the participants taking part in the research
• or the group of individuals represented by the research

Question 2

ethical implications

Answer 2

• considers the impact or consequences that psychological research has on the rights of participants and group of people they represent in the wider context, not just within the research context
• consequences include how that group of people are percieved and how they are treated

Question 3

example - milgram

Answer 3

• participants were deceived and suffered psychological harm
• strength: importance of findings to society justifies these costs to the participants as the research is useful in determining the factors that affect obedience to authority
• limitation: findings could be used to ensure people in society obey orders even when they feel the order is wrong and they dont want to follow it

Question 4

example - bowlby

Answer 4

• strength: bowbly’s attachment theory has contributed to the development of childcare
• limitation: has encouraged the view that a woman’s place is in the home with her children, view may lead to some women who want to work feeling guilty

Question 5

evaluation - the wider impact of research

Answer 5

• are always social consequences to participants in research
• increased potential for indirect consequences on the group that the participant represents

Question 6

evaluation - recognising inadequacy of current ethical guidelines

Answer 6

• present ethical guidelines dont ask researchers to consider how their research might be used by others
• research findings in some cases have been used to discriminate against certain groups

Question 7

evaluation - should we conduct socially sensitive research?

Answer 7

• could avoid research into socially sensitive areas e.g race, gender, addiction, homosexuality
• would avoid negative consequences of that research for those groups of society

Question 8

evaluation - some groups are marginalised

Answer 8

• research often fails to include representative samples of people with disabilities, the elderly, the disadvantaged and members of minority cultures
• reduces our understanding of human behaviour and means that these groups may miss out on potential benefits research

Question 9

evaluation - engaging with the public and policymakers

Answer 9

• researchers should be aware that their findings may lead to discriminate and abuse
• research may be used by the public to offer scientific credibility to prevailing prejudice
• individual researchers have duty to promote their research in a socially sensitive way

Question 10

4 aspects of the research situation

Answer 10

• the research question
• the methodology question
• the institutional context
• interpretation and application of findings

Question 11

the research question

Answer 11

• simply asking a research question may be damaging to a particular population group as it may add scientific credibility to a prevailing prejudice
• ‘are there racial differences in IQ?’
• ‘is homosexuality inherited?’

Question 12

the methodology used

Answer 12

• researchers should consider how participants are treated particularly their rights to confidentiality
• if a participant confesses to a crime should his confidentiality be contained
• if a specific school is found to have a high frequency of antisocial behaviour how will that information affect pupils at that school

Question 13

the institutional context

Answer 13

• research is often funded by private institutions, researchers should be mindful about how the findings will be used and reported by the media
• research on drug therapy is funded by pharmaceutical companies, often they dont publish research that may be harmful to their sales

Question 14

interpretation and application of findings

Answer 14

• researchers should consider how their findings might be interpreted and applied in the real world
• the development of IQ tests was subsequently used to demonstrate the inferiority of certain groups of people and also to identify the feeble-minded who could then be sterilised