Socially sensitive research

• What is socially sensitive research

  research that causes stigma to groups in society, controversy or political change as a result of its findings
• What are the key principles of socially sensitive research

  • stigma/prejudice = attaching a negative label to someone
  • able to shape law/political change
  • controversy
• Stigma/prejudice

  Psychologists should be aware that individuals or groups may experience feelings of shame + exclusion due to sensitive issues explored in research, such as gender, culture or illness. findings from psychological research can lead to groups to feel discrimination, stereotyping + prejudice/marginalised
• Political change

  in some circumstances the outcome of research may have implications for government policy/laws + change the lives of people involved in the research
• Controversy

  some issues may be controversial as they go against previously held ideas (e.g Germans are different theory - Milgram), cause social unrest or may diminish responsibility from people (lack of accountability for behaviour)
• Strengths of conducting socially sensitive research

  + SS research can reduce bias + prejudice towards certain issues or groups in society; when psychologists conduct SS research that = benefits society, societies understanding + awareness can improve

  +SS research can increase our insight + raise awareness of controversial/socially sensitive issues + offer an alternative opinion/idea that can = positively benefit society

  + SS research can sometimes directly impact creating or improving social policies + practices. such changes can be beneficial to society as a whole
• Weaknesses of conducting socially sensitive research pt 1

  • can sometimes perpetuate harmful stereotypes that negatively impact certain social groups = can lead to prejudice + discrimination
  • psychologists may not be able to influence use of research findings so may be unintended consequences of the research. government may use research to improve or shape social policy which can significantly effect certain social groups + the general public. there's little control over how others use research which can be problematic depending on the sensitivity of the research
• Weaknesses of conducting socially sensitive research pt2

  • research that causes stigma to certain groups in society can lead to such groups feeling marginalised from society, a sense of shame for being different + can lead to prejudice
• Structure for question on how a study is socially sensitive

  • outline how the study is socially sensitive by linking to a key principle
  • give evidence from the study to show this
  • explain why this is socially sensitive by thinking about the wider implications for society
• Example Q1: Outline how this study is socially sensitive

  
  

  STIGMA: demonstrates how we're able to apply negative labels to people who are 'different or considered 'inferior'

  CONTROVERSY: demonstrates how easy it can be to adopt discriminatory vies which creates social unrest, people might question whether they hold these views

  shocking she used such young children who are very impressionable/vulnerable to discriminatory views

  people don't think they'd go along w something that was wrong

  
• Example answer 1

  
• Example Q2: Outline how this study is socially sensitive

  
• Example answer 2

  The study is socially sensitive as it highlights how stigma may be attached to certain individuals. For example, the Ps watched a teacher acting cordially or inhospitable with students + results showed when they were acting positively they were seen as appealing but when they were acting negatively they were seen as irritating showing how we attach negative labels to people based on one interaction + not their character. This is an issue as such individuals are marginalised from society or made to feel shame based on their characteristics