Ethical Implications

• Ethical implications consider the impact and consequences that psychological research has on the rights of other people in a wider context, not just the pp’s taking part in the research - may lead to a change in, or justification for, the way these groups are treated/perceived.
• Milgram's study

  Participants were deceived and unable to provide fully informed consent, and the study was distressing for them. However, pp’s were debriefed afterwards and took part in a follow-up interview, in which pp’s said they’d suffered no long-term effects.
• The importance of Milgram's findings

  Justified the way the research was conducted
• Milgram's research is socially sensitive because it could be used to convince people to obey orders, even ones they don't want to follow
• Bowlby’s theory:

  Bowlby’s monotropic theory suggests that children form one special attachment, usually with their mother, which must take place during a critical period.

  Bowlby also suggested that this attachment bond affects their future relationships through the IWM.
• So, Bowlby’s theory is socially sensitive bc it could be used to coerce mothers to stay at home and look after their children.
• Sieber and Stanley used the term ‘socially sensitive‘ to describe studies where there are potential social consequences, for the pp’s or the group of people represented by the research.
• Four aspects

  They identified 4 aspects in the scientific research process that raise ethical implications in socially sensitive research.

  • the research question
  • the methodology
  • the institutional context
  • interpretation and application of findings
• The research question:

  The researcher must consider their research question carefully.

  Questions like ‘Are there racial differences in IQ?‘ or ‘Is intelligence inherited?‘ may be damaging to members of a particular group.
• The methodology used:

  The researcher needs to consider the treatment of pp’s and their right to confidentiality and anonymity.

  Eg: if someone admits to taking a crime, should the researcher maintain confidentiality?
• The institutional context?

  The researcher should mindful of how the data is going to be used, and consider who going to be funding

  If the research is funded by a private organisation or institution, why are they funding the research and how do they intend to use the findings?
• Interpretation and application of findings:

  The researcher needs to consider how their findings might be interpreted and applied to the real world.

  Cold their data /conclusions be used to inform policy?
• A03 - minimise indirect harm (P)

  The considerations outlined by Sieber and Stanley provide a mechanism to safeguard individuals who are indirectly affected by psychological research.
• A03 - minimise indirect harm (E)

  It isn‘t enough to simply safeguard the interests of those taking part in the research.

  For example, current ethical guidelines don’t require researches to consider how their findings might be used by others / institutions to inform / shape public social policy.
• A03 - minimise indirect harm (L)

  Sieber and Stanley recommend that this is considered when researchers interpret or apply their findings. In this way, they ensure that psychological research doesn’t indirectly cause harm to other members of society.
• A03 - discrimination (P)

  Some psychologists argue that conducting socially sensitive research can lead to issues of discrimination.
• A03 - discrimination (E)

  Eg: research which has been used to examine racial differences in IQ has been used to justify new forms of social control.

  In 1972, it was revealed that at least 2,000 involuntary serialisations has been performed on poor black women without their prior consent or knowledge.
• A03 - discrimination (E)

  Research findings, like those of Robert Yerkes, could be used to justify this, arguing that African-Americans had lower IQ scores in comparison to white Americans.
• A03 - discrimination (L)

  This highlights a serious issue with socially sensitive research
• A03 - beneficial to society (P)

  It’s important to recognise that not all socially sensitive research is controversial, but some is desirable and beneficial to society.
• A03 - beneficial to society (E)

  For example, research which examines psychological effects of stigma and discrimination on LGBTQ+ individuals.
• A03 - beneficial to society (E)

  Conducting this type of socially sensitive research ethically and with consideration for the participants' well-being is crucial. It not only advances our understanding of the psychological effects of stigma and discrimination but also drives social change, promotes mental health, and fosters a more inclusive society.
• • Psychologists should be free to carry out whatever research is important to them because if governments start passing laws to prohibit certain kinds of research, then there is a danger that research will be stopped for political rather than for ethical reasons.