Ethical Implications of Research Studies & Theory

• What are ethical implications in research?

  Consequences affecting participants and group perceptions
• Why do some areas of research have higher social sensitivity?

  They may impact societal views and individuals
• What is particularly important in socially sensitive research?

  All stages of planning and conducting studies
• What are the three aspects to consider in socially sensitive research?

  • Research Question
  • Dealing with Participants
  • The Way the Findings are Used
• What do Sieber & Stanley (1988) warn about research questions?

  They may influence interpretation of findings
• What issues are especially important in dealing with participants in sensitive research?

  Informed consent, confidentiality, and psychological harm
• Why might participants not fully understand the effect of research?

  Complexity of the research topic and methods
• What should researchers consider about the use of findings?

  How findings may impact data collection and interpretation
• What can findings from research provide to existing prejudices?

  Scientific credence to those prejudices
• Why is sensitive information often publicized more?

  Due to media interest in such topics
• How does research influence government social policies?

  • Research informs policies on child care, education, and crime
  • Preferable to base policies on scientific research
  • Psychologists play a crucial role in providing quality research
• What significant change occurred in the DSM regarding homosexuality?

  Removed as a disorder in 1973
• What did Kinsey et al (1948) conclude about homosexuality?

  It is a typical expression of human sexual behavior
• What does the research on a 'criminal gene' raise questions about?

  Conviction based on genetic predisposition
• What does researching socially sensitive topics require?

  Careful consideration of possible outcomes
• What can poor research design lead to?

  Erroneous findings and lasting consequences
• What was the impact of Burt’s (1955) research despite fraud exposure?

  11+ continued to be used in education
• How is access to independent schools often determined?

  Based on performance in entrance exams
• Why must research on socially sensitive topics be carefully planned?

  To ensure findings are valid and impactful
• What is a strength regarding Ethical Implications in research?

  Real World Application

  • The government looks to research when developing important social policies, such as in regards to child care, education and crime
  • It is clearly preferable to base such policies on scientific research rather than policy tidally motivated views
  • This means that psychologists have an important role to play in providing high quality research on socially sensitive topics
• What is a strength regarding Ethical Implications in research?

  Benefits for Groups

  • In 1952, the DSM-1 listed homosexuality as a ‘sociopathic personality disorder’, but removed it in 1973, in which the change has been credited to the Kinsey et al (1948) report
  • Kinsey et al (1948) concluded that homosexuality is a typical expression of human sexual behaviour, based on anonymous interviews with over 5000 men about their sexual behaviour, as well as data on interviews with 6000 women
  • This illustrates the importance of researchers tackling topics that are sensitive
• What is a limitation regarding Ethical Implications in research?

  Criminal Gene

  • However, in some studies there could be negative consequences for the groups being studied, which in some cases could have been anticipated
  • For example, research investigating a ‘criminal gene’, and so it brings up the question that should they be convicted on the basis of the gene or should be excused because they can not be held responsible
  • This suggests that, when researching socially sensitive topics, there is a need for very careful consideration of the possible outcomes and their consequences
• What is a limitation regarding Ethical Implications in research?

  Poor Research Design

  • Research design may lead to erroneous findings, such as Burt’s (1955) research, in which even after the fraud was exposed, the 11+ continued to be used
  • Similarly, access to independent schools is based on a child’s performance in an entrance exam taken in Year 6, and is likely to be based on the same idea that genetic potential has been revealed by this age
  • Therefore, any research on socially sensitive topics need to be planned with care to ensure the findings are valid because of the effects on people