Ethical Implications

Ethical Implications: The consequences of any research (studies and/or theory) in terms of the effects on individual participants or on the way in which certain groups of people are subsequently regarded. There may also be consequences on a wider societal level.

Ethical Implications Examples: Long-term memory study will have little to no consequences on social policy but a study of depression may have consequences as they may suggest people with depression may never fully recover and are therefore a risk to an employer.

Social Sensitivity: Sieber + Stanley (1988) 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’.

Research Question (Ethics): The ways in which research questions are phrased and investigated may influence the way in which findings are interpreted.

Research Questions Example (Ethics): Kitzinger + Coyle (1995) note that research into relationships has been guilty of a form of ‘heterosexual bias’ within which homosexual relationships were compared and judged against heterosexual norms.

Dealing with Participants (Ethics): Informed consent, confidentiality and psychological harm are important in socially sensitive research.

Dealing with Participants Example (Ethics): Domestic abuse studies may find participants distressed in recalling their experiences and although participants may have provided informed consent at the start of the study but not fully understand the effect of the research.

The way findings are used (Ethics): Research may impact what data researchers actually collect which is important as findings may be seen as giving scientific credence to existing prejudices (IQ tests). Sensitive information tends to be what the media is interested in.

Benefits for Groups: Research can have benefits for the group who have been studied. In 1952, the DSM-1 listed homosexuality as a sociopathic personality disorder but was removed in 1973. This has been credited to the Kinsey report which was based on anonymous interviews with over 5000 men about their sexual behaviour and concluded homosexuality is a typical expression of human sexual behaviour.

Counterpoint to Benefits for Groups: In some studies, there could be negative consequences for the groups being studied. For example, the finding of a ‘criminal gene’ suggests that someone could be convicted on the basis that they have this gene. The social sensitivity of the research can hinder it.

Real-World Application (Ethics): Certain groups (policymakers) rely on research related to socially sensitive issues. The government looks to research when developing important social policies, such as on child care, education or mental health. The Office for National Statistics describes itself as being responsible for collecting, analysing and disseminating objective statistics about the UK’s economy, society and population which can in turn be used in psychological research.

Poor Research Design (Ethics): Burt’s research suggested a child’s intelligence can be determined at 11 with the 11+ test and should be used to determine what type of secondary school a child goes to which has an impact on their later life opportunities. Even after this research was shown to be a fraud, the 11+ is still used as a selection tool and access to many independent schools is based on a child’s performance in an entrance exam at 11 and based on the same reasoning.

To do or not to do (Ethics): The American Psychological Association reported that ethical committees approved 95% of non-sensitive proposals but only 50% of sensitive proposals were approved. However, Sieber and Stanley advised that ignoring topics is irresponsible and instead researchers should be up-front about their own biases and be reflexive in their approach.