A03

• strength- cost benefit analysis

  • When deciding whether certain research projects should be allowed to continue, ethics committees undergo a cost-benefit analysis, where the benefit of the research (such as contribution to the existing field of knowledge) is compared to the costs of breaching ethical guidelines.
  • However, some ethical implications of socially sensitive research may be particularly difficult to predict.
• strength


  Important that researchers do not stay away from socially sensitive research 

  • such research may have major positive impacts, such as challenging 
  • stereotypes or ‘scientific justifications’ for discrimination. For example, Scarr argues that only by studying these areas will the general public and scientific community develop a greater understanding for these underrepresented groups. 
  • thus able to benefit them and improve their QOL