Ethical Implications

• The Research Question (affects participants and the group to which they belong) The way the question is phrased may be damaging to members of a particular group. For example ‘are there racial differences in IQ? Goddard (1917) issued IQ tests to immigrants in the US. He ‘found’ the immigrants were ‘feeble minded’ however he failed to acknowledge cultural bias in the questions, which were presented in English and required knowledge of American culture in order to answer. Gives scientific credibility to discriminatory actions.
• Treatment of Participants (affects participants and the group to which they belong) Researchers need to consider the treatment of the participants’ and their right to confidentiality and anonymity may not be upheld. If someone who is HIV positive admits to unprotected sex, BPS guidelines dictate the researcher should break confidentiality as the behaviour may cause harm to others. The willingness of this minority group to become involved in future research could be decreased.
• The Institutional Context (affects the researcher, institution and wider society). The source of funding for research may dictate how it is conducted or how the findings are used. Jooba cited several meta-analysis into anti-depressant research and found publication bias as mainly positive outcomes were reported as the institutions get significant funding from pharmaceutical companies. This creates serious distortion in the literature and can ultimately affect the health of many millions of people.
• Interpretation and Application of Findings (affects wider society and political agendas) The findings of research could be used to inform government’s policy decisions. Bowlby’s work on attachment and maternal deprivation saw him become a World Health Organisation advisor in the 1950s. It is argued his theories underpinned the UK government’s decision to not offer free childcare places to under 5s. All citizens affected by the policy change will be as a direct consequence of the findings of the study.
• Ethical implications of psychological research

  The way that studies and theories have a wide-reaching impact upon the participants involved in a study, how research is communicated to the public and how research is applied to society
• Socially Sensitive Research


  Studies and or theories where there are potential social consequences for the participants or the group of people represented by the research
• Potential consequences of Socially Sensitive Research

  • For the participants themselves (beyond the study)
  • For people close to participants (e.g. family, friends, colleagues)
  • For the social group from which the participants were drawn (e.g. ethnic, cultural, sub-cultural)
  • For wider society and political agendas
  • For the researchers who conducted the research, or the institution to which they belong
• Implication of socially sensitive research

  It can potentially lead to a change in, or justification for, the way people are perceived or treated
• Bowlby's theory of attachment


  • Suggests that children form one special attachment bond, usually with their mother, which must take place within a critical period and affects future relationships through the child's internal working model
  • Encourages the view that a woman's place is at home with her children, which could make some mothers feel guilty for wanting to return to work, following childbirth
• Ethical Implications in Socially Sensitive Research

  Four aspects in the scientific research process that raise ethical implications
• Sieber & Stanley (1988) identified four aspects in the scientific research process that raise ethical implications in socially sensitive research
• Socially sensitive research

  Research on topics that are controversial or taboo in society
• Socially sensitive research findings

  May be misunderstood by the general public
• Correlatory research findings are particularly vulnerable to misuse, but these incorrect deductions often sound convincing to the public
• Psychologists should be mindful of the way in which their research findings may be misunderstood
• Socially sensitive research

  Should not be avoided, as it can start important discussions that were previously avoided
• Even though Socially Sensitive Research can be uncomfortable, it is important that it be carried out to spark debate
• Socially sensitive research

  Can negatively shape public policy
• Psychological research can have a long-lasting effect on people's lives by changing public policy, and psychologists should consider this when publishing their findings
• Socially sensitive research

  Can benefit marginalised groups by understanding the sub-cultural context in which they operate
• Humphreys (1970) carried out research into the practices and social interactions of gay men meeting up in public toilets for sex. He posed as a gay man and met with and talked to his participants. Despite the illegality of their behaviour Humphreys found that most of the stereotypes about gay men were untrue and that their public sexual practices were not harmful to anyone. Research such as this not only helped to reduce societal homophobia but also informed professionals how to conduct more effective health promotion campaigns (e.g. safe sex) within the gay community.
• A limitation of ethically questionable research is that it can negatively shape public policy
• Bowlby's research and its ethical implications


  Feminist writers were critical of the idea that day care could be damaging for a child
• Psychological research can have a long lasting effect on people's lives by changing public policy
• Psychologists should consider the potential impact of their research findings when publishing
• For example, the scientific condition pre-menstrual syndrome is often a topic for debate. This has brought to the limelight how women’s feelings are often medicalised and then disregarded. This new discussion which has occurred, due to socially sensitive research, has allowed psychologists to be more careful when determining gender differences. This demonstrates that even though Socially Sensitive Research can be uncomfortable it is important that it be carried out to spark debate.
• Hazan & Shaver's Love quiz


  Found that insecurely attached people found adult relationships more difficult, tended to divorce, and believed love was rare
• The general public may assume that there is a causal relationship and that having an insecure attachment as a child makes one doomed to have difficult relationships in adulthood
• This demonstrates how Psychologists should be mindful of the way in which their research findings may be misunderstood