AO1

• 'Ethical Implication and Social Sensitivity'

  • Ethical implications - the consequences that psychological research may have
  • Some research has more social sensitivity than others - study on depression vs study on memory of school students
• What are ethical implications?

  • Consequences of any research in terms of the effects on individuals ptpts or on the way in which certain groups of people are subsequently regarded.
  • May also be wider societal effects
• What is Social Sensitivity?

  • 'studies in which there are potential consequences or implications, either directly for the ptpts or for the class of individuals represented by the research' (Sieber and Stanley)
• What are three implications for the research process?

  • Research question
  • Dealing with ptpts
  • The way findings are used
• 'Research Question'

  • Sieber and Stanley
  • Warn the way in which questions are phrased and investigated influence the way in which findings are interpreted
  • Kitzinger and Coyle
  • research into relationships guilty of a form of 'homosexual bias' in which homosexual relationships are compared against heterosexual norms
• 'Dealing with Participants'

  • Informed consent, confidentiality, psychological harm
  • e.g domestic abuse ptpts may worry that an ex-partner will find out about the study and also it is likely extremely stressful for ptpts to describe their experiences
  • Ptpts may provide informed consent at the start but not fully understand the effect of research
• 'The Way the Findings are Used'

  • Research may be seen as giving scientific credence to existing prejudices - examining the ethnic basis of intelligence
  • Socially sensitive information is exactly what the media tend to be interested in and will publicise e.g Owen's research suggesting that you are able to contact those in a coma