ethical implications

• ethical implications

  the consequences of any research regarding the effects on individual participants or how certain groups of people are subsequently regarded.

  There may also be consequences on a wider societal level
• social sensitivity

  SIEBER and STANLEY - studies in which there are potential consequences or implications - either directly for ppts in the research or for the class of individuals represented by the research
• ethical implications and social sensitivity e.g

  • Long-term memory research in a student population is unlikely to have consequences for individual participants or broader social groups
  • study on depression may have consequences in terms of individual ppts, the wider social group and social policy -
  • ppts reveal personal info (affects jobs)
  • findings suggest that depression never fully recovers (risk as an employee)
  • could inform preferred treatment options recommended by the NHS
• implications for the research process -socially sensitive

  RESEARCH QUESTION

  • Seiber and Stanley -
  • how research questions are phrased and investigated may influence the way in which findings are interpreted
  • Kitzinger and Coyle -
  • research into relationships has been guilty of a form of heterosexual bias within which homosexual relationships were compared and judged against heterosexual norms
• implications for the research process - socially sensitive

  DEALING WITH PARTICIPANTS

  • informed consent, confidentiality and psychological harm
  • domestic abuse study - have to worry about an ex-partner finding out about the study, stressful for ppts to recall events, ppts provide informed consent but not fully understand the effect of the research
• implications for the research process - socially sensitive

  THE WAY FINDINGS ARE USED

  • important because findings from research may be seen as giving scientific credence to existing prejudices - ethnic basis of intelligence
  • sensitive info is what the media tend to be interested in and will publicise - Owens research on people in a minimally conscious state
• AO3 - socially sensitive - strength

  P: It can have benefits for the group who have been studied

  E: e.g. homosexuality - Kinsley report which was based on anonymous interviews with men about their sexual behaviour, concluded that homosexuality is a typical expression of human sexual behaviour

  E: This meant the DSM-1 definition of homosexuals 'sociopathic personality disorder' was removed

  L: illustrates the importance of researchers tackling sensitive topics
• AO3 - socially sensitive - strength

  P: certain groups rely on research related to socially sensitive issues

  E: the government looks to research when developing social policies - child care, education, crime

  E: independent groups such as Office for National Statistics who collect, analyse objective statistics about the UK - which is further used in psychological research

  L: psychologists have an important role in providing high quality research on socially sensitive topics
• A03 - socially sensitive - limitation

  P: poor research design leads to erroneous findings that impact society

  E: In Burts research on establishing 11+ exam it was revealed it was fake

  • 11+ still used as a selection tool in parts of the UK
  • access to independent schools is still based on a child's performance in an entrance exam age 11

  L: any research on socially sensitive topics needs to be planned with greatest care to ensure findings are valid because of the enduring effects