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Ethical Implications and Social Sensitivity - Coggle Diagram
Ethical Implications and Social Sensitivity
Ethical Implications:
considers the impact or consequences that psychological research has on the rights of other people in a wider context, not just the people taking part in the research.
Social Sensitivity:
Sieber and Stanley (1988)
used this to describe studies where there are potential social consequences for the participants or groups of people represented by the research.
Sieber and Stanley (1988)
The Research Question:
how is the question phrased? Some questions may be insensitive to member of a particular groups.
The Methodology Used:
the researcher needs to consider the treatment of the participants and their right to confidentiality and anonymity.
The Institutional Context:
the researcher should be mindful of how the data is used and who is funding the research.
Interpretation and Application of Findings:
how might the findings be interpreted and applied in the real world?
Possible Ethical Implications:
Effects of research on participants or wider public.
Potential use of findings for allocating resources.
Potential use of findings for political consequences.
Potential bias against people of certain cultures.
Potential influence on moral attitudes towards individuals or groups.
Economic implications for further research or funding.
Examples
Bowlby's research into child rearing changes policies in daycare centres.
Milgram's study of obedience had led to better training for nurses/military etc. as we now understand the factors that cause people to obey.
Both these studies had negative implications for the people involved.
Examples
Diagnosis of mental health disorders could be seen as labelling or can cause issues with the patient's lives.
Research into addiction raises the issue of who is blame if an addiction is inherited.
Attachment research suggests women should play a caregiver role and therefore must not enter the workplace for prolonged periods of time.
Evaluation
Not all socially sensitive research is controversial. Research into eyewitness testimony can help to prevent wrongful convictions as we now understand how to get the most information out of a witness.
Risk of discrimination e.g. research into gender, sexuality, culture etc can create tension between groups. Findings can cause issues of social control by the government but psychologists can work with them to help reduce this.
Science needs to tackle 'big questions' in order to advance so socially sensitive should not be avoided as this would be irresponsible according to Sieber and Stanley.