Ethical implications

• Bowlby's theory of maternal deprivation


  His belief that maternal love specifically was crucial for a child's development
• Bowlby's research based on his study '44 Juvenile Thieves'


  1950s
• Bowlby's research


  Had profound effect on women, led to an increase in 'stay at home' mothering
• Bowlby's research


  Negatively impacted women's career choices, devaluation of father's role in parenting
• Bowlby's research


  Led to many positive social changes in childcare provision, as it became clear how important good care was in the early years of child development
• 3 concerns for socially sensitive research identified by Sieber and Stanley (1988)


  • Wider implications - what people might do with the findings
  • Uses/public policies - research may be used to shape public policies
  • Validity of research - can be affected by the researchers' own biases/perceptions
• Studies giving scientific credibility to controversial findings


  • Bowlby's maternal deprivation theory, genetic foundation of intelligence
• Research used to shape public policies

  • 11+ exam
• Politically/ideologically motivated research can lead to validity issues
• Ethical implications


  May have social consequence either directly/indirectly for the people being tested or wider group they belong to