Ethical Implications

• Ethical Issues:

  • Things that we control during the research process.
  • Informed consent.
  • Protection from harm.
  • Deception.
  • Privacy and Confidentiality.
  • These have a direct impact on the participants involved in the study
• Ethical Implications:

  • The potential impact of our research on society after it has been published.
  • Media portrayal.
  • Impact on the wider community – how the findings are used after the research has been published.
  • Global Impact.
  • Public Policy.
  • Misuse of misrepresentation.
• Ethical Issues with Milgram:

  • Participants were deceived and weren’t provided with fully informed consent.
  • The experiment was distressing.
  • However, they were debriefed and given a follow-up interview.
  • Could be argued that the research is socially sensitive as the results could be used to ensure they obey orders.
• Social Sensitivity:

  • Sieber and Stanley (1988) define social sensitivity research as ‘studies in which there are potential consequences or implications, either directly for the participants in the research or for the class of individuals represented by the research’.
  • An investigation into the cognitive processes involved in long-term memory is unlikely to have a widely negative impact on the participants – or the social groups those participants represent.
  • It is also unlikely to gain much media attention as it isn’t particularly interesting to the general public.
  • However, an investigation into the vulnerability of certain groups to criminality is very likely to gain media attention and spark public interest and debate.
  • This would have wide-reaching repercussions for those identified in the group that have been found vulnerable to criminality
• How can social sensitivity be helped?

  • The researcher must consider their research question carefully. o The methodology used must be considered.
  • Anonymity and confidentiality.
  • The interpretation and Application of findings
  • How will these be interpreted by the media?
• Evaluation: Benefits of socially sensitive research:

  • Sandra Scarr (1988) argues that despite the controversial nature of socially sensitive research, shedding light on underrepresented groups and issues might promote greater understanding of them.
  • This understanding can lead to a reduction in prejudice and encourage acceptance of these taboo subjects.
  • For example, Goddard (1917) and Shockley (1952) contributed heavily to the racial inequality of America in their time.
  • Their work focused on the claims that intelligence is linked to race.
  • However, Gould criticised work on this deeming it racist. This has led to the psychological community to further investigate IQ testing and develop IQ tests of today which attempt to irradiate bias in their methods.
  • Arguably, without the initial IQ tests by Goddard – the tests have been developed which wouldn’t have happened without socially sensitive research.
• Evaluation: Socially sensitive research can be developed by:

  • Seiber and Stanley warn that how we phrase potentially socially sensitive research questions can impact the way the findings from such research are used.
  • Need to be careful about questions asked.
  • Kitzinger and Coyle (1995) note how research into ‘alternative relationships’ is guilty of heterosexual bias.
  • However, modern-day psychologists are becoming more reflexive in their approach to studying socially sensitive topics.
• Evaluation: There is a risk of misuse:

  • Historically, socially sensitive research has been misused by the media.
  • Can have unpredictable and damaging effects.
  • Burt (1995) research into IQ.
  • However, it could be argued that this is preventable