Ethical implications of research studies and theory

• Socially-sensitive research

  Any research that might have direct social consequences for the participants in the research or the group that they represent
• Sieber and Stanley: 'Socially sensitive research is "studies in which there are potential consequences or implications, either directly for the participants in the research or for the class of individuals represented by the research"'
• Major BPS ethical guidelines

  • Respect
  • Competence
  • Responsibility
  • Integrity
• Potential ethical issues from breaching BPS guidelines

  • Privacy
  • Confidentiality
  • Valid methodology
  • Deception
  • Informed consent
  • Equitable treatment
  • Scientific freedom
  • Ownership of data
  • Values
  • Risk/benefit ratio
• Socially sensitive research

  • Bowlby's monotropic attachment theory
  • Burt's research into intelligence
• Bowlby's theory on maternal deprivation led to Britain being one of the only countries in the EU not offering free childcare for children under the age of 5
• Burt's fraudulent research demonstrating high heritability of intelligence played a significant part in the development of the 11+ examinations, which still exist today
• The consequences of socially sensitive research include uses/public policy, the validity of research, and the implications of the research on how individuals or groups view themselves and are viewed by society