Ethical implications

• What is the acronym for ethical guidines ?

  Can do can’t do with participants

  confidentiality

  deception

  consent

  debrief

  right to withdraw

  protection
• What are ethical guidelines ?

  A set of principles devised by the BPS to help psychologists conduct research honestly
• What are ethical issues ?

  A conflict between the rights of the participant and the aim of the researcher
• What are ethical implications ?

  the impact or consequences that research has on other people in a wider context, not just the participants
• What is social sensitivity ?

  Studies and theories where there are potential long term social consequences or implications, either directly for the pp or any individuals the research represents
• What sieber and Stanley present ?

  Defined the term social sensitivity to describe research which has indirect costs to ppd or those they represent

  • there are 4 elements of the research process where this can be prevented
• What are the 4 elements social sensitivity can be prevented ?

  1. The research question
  2. the methodology used
  3. institutional context
  4. interpretation and application
• The research question ?

  Some questions are damaging
• Methodology used ?


  Ethical guidelines e.g confidentiality

  • if a pp confesses to a crime should confidentiality be maintained
• Institutional context ?


  Who is funding the research and how is the data going to be used

  • researchers need to be mindful - drug trials supported by pharmaceutical companies
• Interpretation and application ?

  How will the findings be interpreted or applied to the real world

  • could their data be used to reform policy
  • will the media missinterpret
• milgram ?

  • ethical implications are positive as it helps explain why people disobey authority (within the governments best interest)
  • research is socially sensitive as the rains could be used to ensure people obey orders j closing those who don’t wish to follow
  • argued that the findings did justify the way the research was conducted as it will benefit society
• Bowlby theory of attachment

  • contributed to the development of childcare practices, it has also encouraged the view that the women’s place is at home with the children which could make some mothers feel guilty for wanting to return to work
  • is socially sensitive as it could be used to coerce mothers to stay at home
• Application ?

  • ainsworth
  • Harlow
  • psychopathology
  • bio psychology

  all benefit society despite ethical problems
• Evaluation of ethical implications ?

  • studies underrepresent groups
  • many groups excluded
  • only know when it’s been made public
• underrepresent ?

  • issues prompting gender sensitivity and h def standing which can reduce prejudice and encourage acceptance
• Many groups excluded ?

  Or misrepresented which means these groups miss out on any benefits from the research
• What’s been made public ?

  Hard to anticipate the consequences

  • way in which research aims are phrased and investigated may influence how research is interpreted
  • ethnocentrism may be present