discuss the ethical implications of social sensitivity (16)

• Ethical implications


  The impact or consequences that psychological research has on the right of other people in a wider context, not just the people participating in the research
• Milgram's research study


  • Participants were put through a distressing experience in which they were not able to provide full informed consent
  • Participants were debriefed and took part in follow-up interviews which assured that they did not suffer any long-term effects
  • The importance of these findings justified the way the research was conducted as it was useful to society
• Bowlby's theory


  • Suggests that a child must form an attachment within the critical period and explain how it can affect future relationships and an internal working model
  • Has contributed to the development of childcare practices and encouraged the view that a woman's place is at home
• Social sensitivity


  Studies like Milgram's and Bowlby's that have potential social consequences for the participants, or the group of people represented by the research
• Concerns with socially sensitive research

  • Some studies gave status to prejudice and discrimination
  • Others may be used for wrong purposes
  • The validity of some findings could be presented as objective while fraudulent
• Considerations for dealing with socially sensitive research

  • The research question should not be leading imposing prejudice or stereotypes
  • Information should remain confidential before, during, and after the research
  • If research is being funded by a body, then researched must ensure data is not being misused
  • Interpretations or findings should not have an impact on participants or groups of people the research represents
• Limitation of ethical implications in research

  • Cost and benefits may be difficult to predict
  • Ethical committee weighs up the cost and benefits of the research, which is difficult to do with some vulnerable groups without making the research public
  • Specific ethical implications that are hard to predict are the way that findings of studies may be misinterpreted, or they may be applied in ways that lead to a spread of prejudice and discrimination of certain groups that were not originally intended
• Limitation of socially sensitive research

  • It may be used for social control
  • From the 1920s, US state law led to the compulsory sterilization of many citizens who were judged to be 'feeble-minded and a drain on society, with psychologists supporting this argument
  • Such research can lead to issues of discrimination which is why some psychologists argue against this form of research
• Not all socially sensitive research is controversial, and some findings can be desirable and beneficial to society
• Socially sensitive research


  • Research examining the use of children in eye-witness testimony has found them to be reliable witnesses when questioned in an appropriate manner
  • Has resulted in a good working relationship between psychologists and the legal profession