ethics

• One limitation of the current ethical guidelines is that research may still inflict harm. Psychologists have developed ethical guidelines that aim to protect the immediate needs of research participants, but they may not deal with all the possible ways in which research may inflict harm on a group of people or section of society. For example, at present ethical guidelines don't ask researchers to consider how their research might be used by others. This suggests that the considerations outlined some time ago have not yet permeated into professional practice.
• Many groups in society have suffered the consequences of being excluded or misrepresented when they are included. It might be argued our understanding of human behaviour has been lessened by our misinterpretations of representative samples of persons with disabilities, the elderly, the disadvantaged and members of minority cultures. These shortcomings also mean that these groups then miss out on any of the potential benefits of research.This failure to fully include such groups in psychological research means our understanding of human behaviour has been unnecessarily restricted.
• One solution to the problem of handling socially sensitive research is to avoid it altogether.The argument in favour of doing this is that the findings may have negative consequences for the pts, for the section of society they represent or for the whole of society. However, this would probably leave psychologists with nothing to examine but unimportant issues. argued that ignoring sensitive research is not a responsible approach simply because they are controversial is also an avoidance of responsibility.Therefore psychologists have a duty to conduct such research.
• There are always some social consequences to participation in research, but with socially sensitive research the impact can be even greater.For example, there is increased potential for a more indirect impact on the participant's family, their co-workers, or maybe even the group that the participant represents (e.g. addicts, women, the elderly and so on). Researchers, therefore, need to think beyond simply safeguarding the interests of the individual in research.Researchers must take account of the likely impact of the research on the larger group of which the participant is a member.
• Part of the process of scientific research is the responsibility that scientists have for the way their research is used. Joan Sieber and Eve Stanley (1988) produced a landmark paper on the issues related to research that has social consequences. They pointed out that the ethical guidelines produced by the American Psychological Association referred to the social implications of research but offered no advice about how such ethical issues might be resolved. Their paper offered a way forward.
• The research process. Sieber and Stanley identified four aspects in the research process at which ethical issues with social consequences may occur:The research question Simply asking a research question (such as 'are there racial differences in IQ?' or'is homosexuality inherited?') may be damaging to members of a particular racial group or sexual orientation because it appears to add scientific credibility to the prevailing prejudice.
• Conduct of research and treatment of participants The main concern is the confidentiality of the information collected (e.g. if a participant confesses to a crime, should confidentiality be maintained?).The institutional context Research may be funded and managed by private institutions who may misuse the data or may misunderstand the data that is produced (see 'All Trials Campaign' below left. The media may obtain reports of such research and misreport the findings.
• Interpretation and application of findings Research findings may be used other than originally intended. The development of IQ tests by psychologists was used to demonstrate the inferiority of certain groups of people and to identify the 'feeble-minded' who could then be sterilised. Sieber and Stanley identified 10 types of ethical issue that relates to socially sensitive research: Privacy During the research process, a skilled investigator may extract more info from pts than they intended to give. Some research may be invasion of people's private lives.
• Confidentiality Participants may be less willing to divulge information in the future if confidentiality is breached and further related research would be compromised. Valid methodology In cases of poor methodology (and therefore invalid findings), scientists may be aware of these problems, but the media and the public may not, and thus poor studies might shape important social policy to the detriment of those groups represented by the research.
• Deception includes self-deception whereby research may lead people to form untrue stereotypes (e.g. believing that women are less good at maths), which then affects one's own performance.Informed consent Potential participants may not always comprehend what is involved.Equitable treatment All participants should be treated in an equitable manner, and resources which are vital to the participants' well-being (e.g. educational opportunities) are not withheld from one group whilst being available to another. 
• Scientific freedom. The scientist has a duty to engage in research but not to harm participants in society.Ownership of data Some of the problems with determining ownership involve the sponsorship of the research the public accessibility of the data. Values Psychologists differ in their orientation towards subjective approaches and more objective approaches. Sensitive issues arise when there is a clash in such values between the scientist and recipient of the research.Risk/benefit ratio Risks or costs should be minimised, but problems arise in determining risks as well as benefits.