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Ethical Implications and Social Sensitivity - Coggle Diagram
Ethical Implications and Social Sensitivity
Possible Ethical Implications/Effects:
Effect of research on the participant
Effect of research on the public
Potential use of findings for allocating resources
Potential use of findings for political consequences
Potential bias against people of certain culture/background
Potential influence on moral attitudes towards individuals/groups
Economic implications for further research/funding
Ethical Implications:
considers the impact/consequences that psychological research has on the rights of other people in wider context, not just the ppts taking part in the research
Milgram (1963):
There could be a misuse of the findings by authority figures in society
BUT - Due to this work we now have better training for nurses/military and we understand the factors that lead people to obey - the end might justify the means
Bowlby's Theories of Attachment:
It is viewed that women should stay at home and care for children, preventing them from accessing employment
BUT - We have a better understanding of children's needs so day care has significantly improved
Social Sensitivity:
used the term socially sensitive to describe studies where there are potential social consequences for the participants or the group of people represented by the research
Areas of study that have socially sensitive research and implications:
Diagnosis of schizophrenia, depression and other mental health issues could be seen as labelling or if used inappropriately then could have issues for people's lives, self-esteem and employment
Research into addiction, particularly biological research raises the socially sensitive issues of who is to blame if addiction is inherited
Attachment research suggests that women should remain in a caregiver role and therefore not enter the wok force for prolonged periods of time
Evaluation:
W - Guidelines provide a way to protect individuals involved in research but do not consider the effects of research in a wider context
Therefore, guidelines do not deal with the ways in which society/groups may be affected by research - considerations of SS and implications have not yet been used to make ethical decisions about studies
S - Sieber and Stanley's research gives a way to check that researchis being SS and that groups/individuals will not be marginalised by the findings
If questions are framed correctly and investigated appropriately then it can lead to an increased understanding of marginalised and under-represented groups in society
W - By carrying out SS research we risk causing discrimination, causing tension between groups
Leads to issues of social control by various governments - SS research has been used to justify measures
S - Can avoid discrimination by working more closely with governments and policy leaders to ensure that research does not have negative implications on groups of people
If psychologists take responsibility for their findings and explain them correctly then discrimination can be avoided eg. how they are used by governments
S - Important not to shy away from SS research as science needs to be able to tackle 'big questions' in order to further our understanding and help prevent further discrimination
Sieber and Stanley suggest that SS research should not be ignored as this is not a responsible way to approach science - if topics are avoided due to controversy, then psychologists are not engaging in their responsibility
S - Not all SS research is controversial; much is beneficial to society eg. eyewitness testimony
This has reduced the risk of miscarriages of justice within the legal system, getting the most accurate info from witnesses, demonstrating that SS research can develop and advance society
S - Work in this area has promoted good relationships between psychologists and other professions such as the police and judicial system
Working closely means that future findings can be useful for society as they are more likely to be adopted by policy makers and vocations which use findings to benefit their areas of expertise
Sieber and Stanley (1998):
To avoid ethical implications and have socially sensitive research
The Research Question
- The researcher must consider their research question carefully. Asking questions like "Are there racial differences in IQ?" may be damaging to members of a particular group.
The Methodology Used
- The researcher needs to consider the treatment of the participant's and the right to confidentiality and anonymity. For example, if someone admits to a crime, should the researcher maintain confidentiality?
The Institutional Context
- The researcher should be mindful of how data is going to be used and consider who is funding the research. If the research is funded by a private institution or organisation, why are they funding the research and how do they intend to use the findings?
Interpretation and Application of Findings
- Finally, the researcher needs to consider how their findings might be interpreted and applied in the real-world. Could their data or results be used to inform policy?