ethical implications

• What is social sensitivity?

  Sieber and Stanley define it as 'studies in which there are potential consequences or implications, either directly for the ppts in the research or for the class of individuals represented by it'
• what are ethical implications?

  • Psychological research may have an impact on the rights of other people if research is typically socially sensitive
  • The rights of others may be infringed at a societal level or public policy
  • As a result the way certain groups are regarded may be influenced
• Importance of ethical implications?

  • Psychological research commonly tends to develop ethical issues when attempting to gain valid research (such as issues with Zimbardo, Milgram etc.)
  • As a result ethical guidelines were put into place to preserve participants rights and additionally, dignity
  • Impacts of work after this is the main concern in which research may impact societal beliefs and policies
• Ethical issues in socially sensitive research?

  • Implications
  • Uses and public policy
  • The validity of research
• Implications

  • Researchers should be mindful of the implications research may cause
  • This can be providing scientific justification to prejudice and discrimination
  • Or even affecting gendered debates which may implicate the role of men/women in society
• Uses/public policy

  • Researchers should consider what their research should be used for and the possible limitations if it was not used how intended
  • This was significant with Cyril Burt and establishing the 11+ examinations in the UK in which he believed children should be divided on the basis of natural intelligence
• Validity of research

  • Research should be concerned with validity
  • Research should be mitigated from possible influences of bias, fraudulence and lack of objectivity
• Benefits of socially sensitive research

  • Scarr argued that studies of underrepresented groups and issues may promote greater sensitivity and understanding, developing psychology as an ethical science
  • Can help reduce prejudice and encourage acceptance
  • Also benefits society with socially sensitive research by being able to improve important industries that serve the public
  • E.g. studies on EWT reliability has led to a reduction in miscarriages of justice within the legal system
  • Has allowed the development and improvement of higher EWT reliability and as a result justice may be more reliably served
• LIMITATION

  • Conducting socially sensitive research may lead to scientific racism
  • For example, Goddard concluded from his research that IQ is genetic and led to sterilisation practises within the 1920s
  • Also influence of Lombroso and criminals
  • This was in which those of minority groups were considered to have 'bad genes' in which impacted levels of IQ, as a result they were sterilised to prevent the inheritance of poor genes whilst white supremacy and 'good genes' reigned
  • As a result, socially sensitive research was negatively used to support eugenic policies to eradicate minority groups based off of genes
• Implications of research may include

  • Effects on ppts
  • Effects on wider public
  • Use of findings such as on resources, political consequences
  • Bias of cultures or backgrounds
  • Economic imps on research or funding