Social Sensitivity

Who defined socially sensitive research?

Sieber and Stanley

What did Sieber and Stanley define socially sensitive research as?

‘studies in which there are potential consequences or implications, either directly for the participants in the research or for the class of individuals represented by the research’

When did Sieber and Stanley define socially sensitive research?

1988

What else did Sieber and Stanley (1988) produce?

a paper about issues that could arise from socially sensitive research

3 factors Researchers cannot control?

How their findings are presented in the media, Any impact on public policy and How their finding influence our perception of particular groups

Socially sensitive research: what are some areas of research?

more controversial than others

An example of an area of research that is unlikely to have negative consequences (not socially sensitive)?

research on the processes involved in long term memory

Examples of areas that are socially sensitive to research (6)?

ethnicity, religion, gender, political views, age and mental disorders

What does research into socially sensitive topics attract attention from (2)?

other psychologists, the media and the public

The 4 Sieber and Stanley considerations?

Research question, dealing with participants, confidentiality and how findings are used

Research question: what can be damaging?

even just asking a certain research question

Research question: an example of a research question that would be damaging just to ask?

‘are there racial differences in IQ?’

Research question: why can asking these types of questions be damaging?

it can be seen as giving scientific credibility to prejudice and discrimination

Research question: What did Kitzinger and Coyle note?

how research into so-called ‘alternative relationships’ has been guilty of ‘heterosexual bias’

Research question: When did Kitzinger and Coyle state this?

1995

Research question: What were homosexual relationships judged against in these studies?

heterosexual norms

Dealing with participants: what must be carefully considered (3)?

informed consent, confidentiality and psychological harm

Dealing with participants: an example of an area of research where you have to worry about these ethical issues?

research on domestic abuse

Dealing with participants: example issue with research on domestic abuse?

participants may give informed consent to begin with, and then later worry an abusive ex-partner will find out what they have told

Confidentiality: examples of situations in which researchers should not keep information confidential?

crime and mental health problems

How the findings are used: the 2 concerns?

could the research be used for the wrong purpose? and could the public misunderstand findings

How the findings are used: who may the findings be adopted by?

governments - to shape public policy and change legislation

How the findings are used: what did Bowlby (researched attachment and maternal deprivation) become?

became advisor for the world health organisation (W.H.O.)

How the findings are used: what did Bowlby becoming advisor for the world health organisation affect?

how a whole generation of children were raised

How the findings are used: when could mothers be seen as acting against the best interests of their children?

if they had a job - instead of staying home and looking after children

How the findings are used: what did Bowlby’s research suggesting this potentially influence?

the UK Government’s decision not to offer free childcare to children under the age of 5

How the findings are used: what else could Bowlby’s research have possibly indirectly affected?

the legal norm of mothers getting custody of children in divorce (previously it was fathers)

Strength - P: what are there benefits to?

the groups studied in socially sensitive research (SSR)

Strength - Ev1: In 1952, what was homosexuality listed as in the DSM?

“Sociopathic Personality Disorder”

Strength - Ev2: what did Kingsley et al do?

ran anonymous interviews with 5000 men about their sexual behaviour

Strength - Ev3: what did Kingsley et al conclude?

that homosexuality is a natural variation of human sexual behaviour

Strength - Ev4: when did Kingsley et al take place?

1948

Strength - Ex1: what did Kingsley et al’s research lead to?

homosexuality being removed from the DSM

Strength - Ex2: when was homosexuality removed from the DSM?

1973

Strength - L: Therefore, what does this show the importance of?

researching socially sensitive topics

Strength 2 - P: how can SSR be used by governements?

to inform laws and policies

Strength 2 - Ex: what is best to base laws about socially sensitive areas on?

objective evidence - rather than political views

Strength 2 - Ev1: example of something that should be decided off of childcare research?

the subsidisation of childcare

Strength 2 - Ev2: why should this be decided off of childcare research rather than political views?

political views, such as traditional views that suggest women should stay at home, can be bias and harmful

Strength 2 - L: therefore, what does SSR allow policy makers to rely on?

objective evidence, rather than subjective opinions

Weakness - P: However, how could SSR be used by policy makers?

for social control

Weakness - Ev1: example of social control - In the 1920s and 1930s what did a large number of US states enacting legislation lead to?

the compulsory sterilisation of many citizens

Weakness - Ev2: what were these people (who were ‘sterilised’) judged to be?

‘feeble-minded’ and a drain on society - e.g. drug addicts and mentally ill people

Weakness - Ev3: why did this compulsory sterilisation happen?

due to psychologists arguing that they were unfit to breed

Weakness - Ex: what is this a real-life application of?

how SSR can lead to wide-scale discriminatory practices

Weakness - L: therefore, what affects can SSR have on society?

serious negative affects on society

Weakness 2 - P: what may be difficult to predict?

the impact on certain groups

Weakness 2 - Ex1: research that carries ethical implications is scrutinized by an ethics committee - what is their job?

to way up the the costs and benefits of the research, as well as the implications

Weakness 2 - Ex2: what may be difficult for the ethics committee to do?

anticipate these implications

Weakness 2 - Ev1: For example, what did Jones et al investigate?

whether trans women athletes have an advantage over cisgender athletes due to being exposed to more testosterone at puberty

Weakness 2 - Ev2: when did Jones et al take place?

2017

Weakness 2 - Ev3: the research expected some comment from the trans community, but where did most of the objections actually come from?

the cisgender community

Weakness 2 - L: Therefore, even though research is scrutinized by an ethics community, how can the real impact of research only be known?

can only ever be known once it has been made public

Economic implications?

how the knowledge and understanding gained from psychological research (theories and studies) may contribute towards our economic prosperity

Economic implications: Economic prosperity?

a country’s growth, security and competitiveness

What affects economic implications (2)?

people’s ability to work and contribute as effective members of society and evidence relating to more efficient use of public money