AO1

• socially sensitive research is any research that might have direct social consequence for the participants in the research or the group that they represent
• ethical issues in socially sensitive research

  • privacy
  • confidentiality
  • valid methodology
  • deception
  • informed consent
  • ownership of data
• The research process

  • the research question
  • conduct of research and treatment of the participants
  • the institutional context
  • interpretation and application of findings
• Sieber and Stanley identified 10 types of ethical issues that relate especially to socially sensitive research
• Examples of socially sensitive research:

  • Bowlby’s monotropic attachment theory = Bowlby was an advisor to the World Health Organisation in the 1950s, following his theory that the critical period for attachment formation with the primary caregiver was the first 2 years of life, and maternal deprivation during this time could have severe emotional and intellectual consequences for the child i.e. affectionless psychopathy/criminality and mental retardation. Therefore, this led to Britain being one of the only countries in the EU not offering free childcare for children under the age of 5.