7. Ethical implications / Social Sensitivity

Define Social Sensitivity

Any research that might have direct social consequences for the participants in the research or the group that they represent.

Implications of research

• Informed consent

• Privacy/Confidentiality

• Protection from physical and psychological harm

Research ethics committee

• A research ethics committee is a group of people appointed to review research proposals to assess formally if the research is ethical. This means the research must conform to recognised ethical standards, which includes respecting the dignity, rights, safety and well-being of the people who take part.

Ethical costs of research

• treat people like lab rats without considering their human rights

• break ethical guidelines to an unacceptable degree

• ignore the social impact of publishing controversial research that still has not gained conclusive findings

• affect future human behaviour negatively

Ethical benefits of research

• Better understanding may help in combating racism

• Combating public complacency

• Making sure justice is served (E.W.T)

• Helping to combat power abuse and unthinking conformity leading to ‘evil’ acts

• Helping decide what is suitable for children to watch on T.V.

Sieber + Stanley (1988)

• Ethical implications can occur at every stage of the research process in psychology, not only at the moment of actually conducting the research procedure.

• Sieber and Stanley (1988) suggested there are potential social consequences for the participants or the group of people represented by the research.

What are the four aspects identified by Sieber and Stanley in the scientific research process that raise ethical implications in socially sensitive research.

1. The Research Question (prejudice)

2. Research Conduct and Ethics/ Methodology (confidentiality + consent)

3. The Institutional Context (if funded by political body or business, biased?)

4. Interpretation and Application of Findings (who did the research, discriminate certain groups)

Give an example of a study which had unethical creation

• Cyril Burt used studies of identical twins to support his view that intelligence is largely genetic.

• His views greatly influenced the Hadow Report (1926), which led to the creation of the 11+ exam for entry into a selective ‘grammar school’. 

• This meant that generations of children were affected by the 11+ exam, even though there has been huge controversy regarding whether Burt had falsified his research data.

Outline a limitation of ethical implications and social sensitivity (1)

P: With socially sensitive research, there is an increased potential for a more indirect impact on the participant’s family, their co-workers or even the group that the participant represents.

E: For example, research into addicts can impact not just the individuals being researched, but addicts as a group within society, particularly if it is used to inform policy or procedure.

A: Therefore it is necessary to think about the likely impact of the research on the larger group of which the participant is a member.

Outline a limitation of ethical implications and social sensitivity (2)

P: A limitation is that there is an inadequacy of Current Ethical Guidelines. Ethical guidelines may protect the immediate needs of research participants but may not deal with all the possible ways in which research may inflict harm on a group of people or section of society.

E: At present ethical guidelines do not ask researchers to consider how their research might be used by others.

E: In addition, it can be hard to fully anticipate the full effects research might have on society.

L: Therefore, the real impact of research can only ever be known once it has been made public.

Outline a limitation of ethical implications and social sensitivity (3)

P: Many groups in society have suffered the consequences of having been excluded from research or being misrepresented when they have been included.

E: It might be argued that our understanding of human behaviour has been lessened by our misinterpretations of, or our failure to include, representative samples of persons with disabilities, the elderly, the disadvantaged and members of minority cultures.

A: The failure to accurately represent and research suh groups carries with it an additional ethical issue - the fact that these groups then miss out on any of the potential benefits of research.

Outline a strength of ethical implications and social sensitivity

P: Researchers cannot ignore or avoid socially sensitive research as it would leave psychologists with nothing but unimportant issues to examine.

E: Sandra Scarr (1988) argues that studies of underrepresented groups and issues may promote a greater sensitivity and understanding of these. This can help reduce prejudice and encourage acceptance.

A: Similarly, socially sensitive research has benefited society – for instance, research into the reliability of eyewitness testimony has reduced the risk of injustice within the legal system. This suggests that socially sensitive research may play a valuable role in society.

Explain what is meant by ‘socially sensitive research’ (3 marks)

• 
  Define (1):  Socially sensitive research refers to studies in which there are potential social consequences or implications, either directly for the participants in research or the class of individuals represented by the research (Sieber and Stanley, 1988).

• Elaborate (2): This could refer to harm during the research such as protection from harm, but can also have wider implications in society e.g. discrimination against certain groups.

• Give an example (3): For example, in Milgram’s research into obedience caused harm to participants and had implications in real-life e.g. some individuals used this to explain Nazi regime and Holocaust.

Outline one piece of research which is socially sensitive. (3 marks)

• Identify the research (1): Bowlby’s monotropic theory of attachment.

• Explain what aspect is socially sensitive (2): Argues that infants form a special attachment with their primary caregiver, usually the mother.

• Elaborate on ethical implications (3): Has encouraged the view that the mother’s place is at home caring for children, leading to some women feeling guilty for going out to work.

AO1 16 MARKER SOCIALLY SENSATIVE RESEARCH AND ETHICAL IMPLICATIONS

• Define socially sensitive research (implications for participants or those they represent) and give example e.g. Bowlby/Milgram/ Zimbardo.

• Ethics committees + cost-benefit analysis.

• Sieber + Stanley - research question, method, institutional context and wider implications in society