Ethical implications

• Ethical guidelines:

  • protect those involved in the research
  • e.g. participants
• Ethical implications:

  • how research can impact pm individuals beyond the study
• Examples of ethical implications:

  • misinterpretation through the media
  • influence on the represented groups of people
  • influence on public policy
• Social sensitivity:

  • some research is controversial and therefore socially sensitive
  • e.g. Bowlby's theory
• Sieber and Stanley:

  Studies have 'consequences and implications' for both the participant and those represented
• Examples of socially sensitive research:

  • studies of depression
  • individual participants personal information could be accessed by a prospective employer
  • findings could suggest to an employer that there is never a full recovery
  • findings could affect social policy as it could inform preferred treatment by the NHS
• Should psychologists still carry out potentially sensitive research ?

  Aronson:

  • psychologists shouldn't be afraid of studying sensitive topics
  • psychologists have a responsibility to carry out sensitive research
• Factors that should be considered when conducting socially sensitive research:

  • cost vs benefit
  • awareness of researcher bias
  • culture bias
  • gender bias
  • validity
  • awareness of misuse of research (negative implications) - media or public policy
• Strength of socially sensitive research: Positive implications

  • Can have benefits for the group being researched
  • e.g. homosexuality was listed as a sociopathic disorder in the 50's but was removed as in 1973
  • The change in attitude was due to the Kinsey report which found homosexuality was a typical expression
  • Therefore research helped break down social barriers and gave people freedom
• Strength of socially sensitive research: Real world application

  • policy makers rely on research from sensitive research
  • government use research to update polices associated with health and education
  • in the UK there are institutions such as the office for national statistics which is information used in research
  • this means that the psychologists need to understand how their research can largely impact society through government issues
• Limitation of socially sensitive research: Negative implication:

  • Research into the genetic 'criminal gene'
  • Could show that incorrect punishment could be given to people with the gene even if they have done nothing wrong
  • Or people could be excused from punishment 'as they can't help it' due to having the gene
  • Shows that there is need for understanding of potential negative effects of researching important issues
• Limitation of socially sensitive research:

  • Studying socially sensitive issues mean that overtime their has been a large amounts of impact
  • Burt had research about IQ which led to policy creating the 11+ tests
  • This research was found to be invalid but the impact still remains as their are still Grammar schools
• How to deal with participants in socially sensitive cases:

  • informed consent
  • confidentiality
  • psychological harm
  • Need to be aware of all these issues and make sure that participants are fully aware of the research they are getting involved in
• Sensitive research dealt with:

  • researchers should weigh up the costs (short term and impacts on participants) vs the benefits (long-term on participants and the wider society) - should only proceed to publish when the benefits outweigh the costs
  • Researchers need to be reflexive - aware of own bias - when conducting sensitive research