Ethical Implications

• Ethical implications

  The consequences that can come from the findings of psychological research and goes beyond the PPs of the study and can influence public policy
• Socially sensitive research

  Studies in which there are potential social consequences or implications for PPs in the research or the class of individuals represented by the research
• Ethical Implications: Bowlby

  • Maternal Deprivation - early separation of a child from their primary caregiver during a critical period can have irreversible consequences
  • Gives negative stigma around children that are raised in day care compared to having a stay at home mum and prejudice towards these mothers
  • Leads to burden and blame on mothers for neglecting the development of their child
• Ethical Implications: Criminal Behaviour due to genes

  • Researcher looked at the brains of murderers and non murderers using matched pairs using brain scans
  • For the murderers there were abnormalities in the prefrontal cortex suggesting there may be a predisposition of violent behaviour
  • May lead to offenders not being held accountable if their crime is due to biology
  • Some people may have a criminal gene but do not commit crimes so prejudice may lead them to eventually committing crime
• Ethical Implications: IQ tests

  • Test was given to recruit people to the army however it was aimed at Americans and those with elite knowledge
  • White Americans, Black Americans and European Immigrants took the test
  • Black Americans had a lower mental age than white Americans which lead to discrimination of them and white Americans thinking they are superior
• Implications for research process: Research question

  • The way research questions are phrased and investigated may influence the way findings are interpreted
  • Research into 'alternative relationships' has been guilty of heterosexual bias within homosexual relationships were compared and judged against heterosexual norms
• Dealing with PPs

  • Issues such as informed consent, psychological harm and confidentiality are important in socially sensitive research
  • A study on domestic abuse, someone may worry their ex partner will find out about the study
  • This may cause a lot of stress
  • PPs may give informed consent but do not understand the effects of the research so care must be taken
• Dealing with social sensitivity

  • Submit research proposals to ethics committees and abide by recommendations (peer review)
  • Weigh up costs and benefits before conducting research (cost benefit analysis)
  • Take care when framing the question so as not to misrepresent certain groups
  • Take steps to avoid prejudice and discrimination
• AO3 Ethical Implications: Allows for a better understanding

  • Although there are ethical implications associated with research into controversial topics it is argued that studies involving underrepresented groups can help promote a greater sensitivity and understanding
  • This can help reduce prejudice and encourage acceptance
  • Socially sensitive research has also benefited society
  • Research into the unreliability of eyewitness testimony has reduced the risk of miscarriages of justice within the legal system
  • Socially sensitive sensitive research may benefit society
• AO3 Ethical Implications: Prejudice against groups can still happen

  • Research can be used to prejudice against people and minorities too
  • IQ tests were given to immigrants, white Americans and Black Americans and found immigrants and black Americans had a lower mental age compared to the whites
  • The test itself was made for Americans and those with elite knowledge
  • As a result of this a lot of prejudice happened even to the extent of people being sterilised so they can not reproduce due to their low intelligence
  • Prejudices can be reinforced by looking into such topics
• AO3 Ethical Implications: Benefits for groups

  • Homosexuality was once labelled as a sociopathic personality disorder which was eventually removed
  • This was as a result of anonymous interviews on 5000 men about their sexual behaviour
  • The report concluded that homosexuality is a normal variant of behaviour
  • Report was also done on 6000 women and caused outrage however was needed to prevent the discrimination of homosexuals
• AO3 Ethical Implications: Real World Application

  • The government looks to research when developing social policies such as decisions related to child care, education and mental health
  • It is preferable to base such policies on scientific research
  • In the UK there are independent groups that ensure the research they are analysing and using is objective
  • Psychologists have an important role in providing high quality research on socially sensitive topics