Social Sensitive Research

• The term “socially-sensitive research” is applied to research linked to a controversial social issue. We use the word “sensitive” to refer to this type of research, because of risk of harming society/those involved in the research/groups within society.
• The first way that socially-sensitive research can be harmful is if the research question lends credibility to damaging prejudices.
• Sieber and Stanley argue that there are two reasons why we should not avoid socially-sensitive research.

  Firstly, scientists have a moral duty to continue to research these topics.Furthermore, this research often has positive outcomes, so we should consider its risk/benefit ratio.
• Sieber and Stanley’s second consideration is the conduct of research and treatment of participants. For example, confidentiality is especially important when it comes to socially-sensitive research, not only for participants, but also their relatives, in some cases.However, socially-sensitive research also sometimes involves situations where researchers must break confidentiality in order to prevent harm.
• Sieber and Stanley argue that social sensitivity makes it especially important for researchers to consider the conduct of research and the treatment of participants.

  For example, milgrams’s use of deception has been heavily criticised, because following orders that are evil is a socially-sensitive issue.

  However, 99% of the participants did not regret taking part because they believed that the findings were of significant benefit to the world.

  Furthermore, researchers can reduce the risks of methods like these by sensitively debriefing their participants.
• Sieber and Stanley’s third consideration for socially-sensitive research is its institutional context.

  Researchers could reduce the risks of socially-sensitive research by committing to publish all of their results, as the AllTrial campaign aims to do for medical trails.

  This would stop institutions like private companies from publishing only the results which increase their profits.
• Sieber and Stanley’s state researchers should consider these 3 aspects.

  1. The research question
  2. The conduct of research and treatment of participants
  3. The institutional context
  4. The interpretation and application of research findings
• How can researchers reduce the risk of socially-sensitive research being misinterpreted?

  Researchers can reduce the risk of socially-sensitive research being misinterpreted by engaging with policymakers and the media. In particular, they should explain the meaning of the research, its limitations, and its underlying assumptions.