AO1 - Ethical Implications and Socially Sensitive Research

• Sieber and Stanley described socially sensitive research as: "Studies in which there are potential social consequences or implications, either directly for the participants in research or the class of people represented by research"
• Ethical implications: For the groups represented in the research, what will be the impact on them / the group they represent?
• One ethical implication is the effects of research findings on participants

  • This issue can be seen in Milgram's obedience research which led to psychological and physical harm both in the research and in the future
  • E.g. 3 participants had seizures due to distress and participants left early with the knowledge that they were willing to obey and hurt another person
• One ethical implication is potential bias against people of certain cultures/socio-economic backgrounds/ethnic groups

  • This issue can be seen in race and IQ research findings - Several researchers have conducted studies on IQ and identified that Afro-Caribbeans score an average of 15 points lower on IQ tests than Caucasians
• One ethical implication is possible uses of the findings - can they be used by the government to create policies/change legislation

  • This can be seen in Bowlby's theory of maternal deprivation which argues that separation from the mother can lead to a range of psychological and social problems including affectionless psychopathy