conducting socially sensitive research

• socially sensitive research

  studies have the potential to have neg impact on specific groups or society generally
• culture and ethnicity

  cultural sensitivity refers to understanding that enables us to gain access to individuals in society to learn about their lifestyles and to communicate in ways the individuals understand, believe, regard as relevant amd are likely to act up upon

  being sensitive to other cultures is easy, were all affected by ethnocentrism everyday
• sex

  • research into gay men reported some men were trying to infect themselves with AIDS- portrayed negative image of gay men- ppl may generalise to all gay men from the examples of unusual few
  • should researcher report what they find or be more concerned with how wider group is viewed
• distress to ppts

  ethical issues can arise with socially sensitive is that ppts might be vunerable or distressed.
• applications to socially sensitive research

  recovered from memory debate
• links with milgram

  milgrams study is socially sensitive because it is trying to uncover why people are capable of acts of gross humanity, the work had impacts on ppts and society. however may not be bad thing as socially sensitive research can uncover truths abt us
• links with loftus and palmer

  l & p also had dramatic social impact, loftus subsequent work went on to look at false/recovered memories and this became more important n understanding the evidence given by adults abt their childhood experiences
• similarities/ differences

  debate links with ethics bc considers the moral decisions abt conducting useful research- and thus is also linked to the debate usefulness
• strengths and weaknesses

  strength of socially sensitive is that it can explore areas that are commonly not spoken about are are hidden

  • for example, men often reluctant to have discussions abt their health and therefore testicular cancer therefore goes unreported

  weakness of socially sensitive is that it may disturb the ppts for the social group creating distress for no measurable benefit