ethical implications

• ethical implications - the impact psychological research could have on the rights of other people, especially participants
• ethical implications

  ethical issues often aries through the conflict between psychologists' desire to achieve valid and reliable results while preserving the rights and dignity of participants

  • another thing that is difficult to prevent is the impact of psychological research once it has been published
  • researchers have little control over how their results are misinterpreted and impact groups in society
• socially sensitive research

  social sensitivity - how controversial the findings of research are likely to be

  • socially sensitive studies also usually attract more attention from both other psychologists and the general public
  • this doesn't mean the research shouldn't be completed, and some suggest this is the most important research that psychologists have a duty to perform
• ethical issues in socially sensitive research

  sieber + stanley - there are concerns socially sensitive research should consider

  • implications - the wider effects of research need to be considered as some may offer scientific justification to discrimination eg. lombroso's atavistic characteristics
  • uses - the research may be used in public policy, including for the wrong reasons as they can be used in policy
  • validity - some findings presented as objective have been found to be fraudulent eg. burt's falsified research into heredity of iq
  • however modern researchers are aware of and prevent this
• eval - benefits of socially sensitive research

  scarr - while research on controversial topics has ethical implications, studies on underrepresented groups can produce greater sensitivity and understanding

  • can also benefit society - research into unreliability of eye-witness testimony has improved the criminal justice process
  • socially sensitive research can improve society
• limitations of ethical implications

  • framing the question - the way research questions are investigated can affect the way findings are interpreted so research should be carried out with an open mind
  • socially sensitive research can be used by governments in social policy, and research that seems harmless may have socially sensitive consequences
  • social control - the research can be used to maintain discrimination
• costs v benefits

  socially sensitive research is scrutinised by ethics committees to weigh up the potential costs and benefits of the research, however some of these consequences may be difficult to anticipate

  • assessments of the worth of research are very difficult and subjective
• socially sensitive research - sieber + stanley - studies that will have wider implications as opposed to potentially having them

  • often topics that are considered taboo
• ethical implications of iq research


  burt - conducted a twin study into iq and found that iq was very highly inherited and so fixed

  • was later found to have falsified his research
  • led to the development of the tripartite system which had a disproportionately negative impact on working class children's access to education
  • several american states introduced forced sterilisation of low iq citizens which disproportionately affected people of colour and greatly resembled eugenics
• how to deal with socially sensitive research


  • cost/benefit analysis - ethical committees attempt to weigh up the costs and benefits of the research; can be very difficult as no one can see the future
  • peer review - check validity of research, especially if it can have implications to society
  • reflexivity - reflect on how personal beliefs affect the research process and be honest about biases to overcome them and make them clear to viewers