ao3

• strengths of ethical implications

  • benefits for groups
  • real world application
• limitations of ethical implications

  • negative consequences for groups
  • poor research design
• how can ethical implications benefit groups?

  • homosexuality was listed in the DSM-1 as a sociopathic personality disorder in 1952
  • removed in 1973 due to the Kinsey report based on anonymous interviews with over 5000 men about their sexual behaviour (Kinsey et al. 1948)
• what impact did the Kinsey report have?

  • concluded homosexuality is a typical expression of human behaviour
  • caused outrage based on discussing taboo topics - included data on interviews with 6000 women
• what impact did the Kinsey report have on ethical implications specifically?

  illustrates the importance of researchers tackling sensitive topics
• example of negative consequences on groups

  • investigating the genetic basis of criminality
  • criminal gene leading to conviction or excused for wrongdoing
  • suggests when researching social sensitive topics you must take careful consideration about the possible outcomes and consequences
• real world application

  • government looks to research when developing important social policies
  • e.g. child care, education, mental health provision, crime
  • preferable to base such policies on scientific research rather than politically-motivated views
• real world application in an important role in UK government

  • there are independent groups such as the ONS (Office for National Statistics)responsible for collecting, analysing and disseminating objective statistics about the UK's economy, society and population
  • such data is used in psychological research
  • important role to play in providing high quality research on socially sensitive topics
• poor research design

  • lead to incorrect findings which, once in the public arena, continue to have an impact
  • any research on socially sensitive topics needs to be planned with the greatest care to ensure the findings are valid because of the enduring effects on particular groups of people
• example of poor research design

  • Burt's twin studies that showed intelligence was highly heritable and could be detected at age 11
  • led to the gov establishing 11+ exams which determines which secondary school a child goes to
  • discrepancies in his data later revealed it was mostly fake e.g. two fake researchers involved