ethical implications

Question 1

social sensitivity

Answer 1

• ethical implications examine the consequences a research study could have
• some research has greater social sensitivity

social sensitivity = research that has ethical implications that go beyond the research situation and affect people/groups in the wider society

Question 2

ethical implications

Answer 2

research question
dealing with participants
how findings are used

Question 3

research questions

Answer 3

• how research questions are phrased could influence the interpretation of findings
  e.g. using the phrase ‘alternative relationships’ suggests that they are being judged against heterosexual relationships and thus heterosexual norms

Question 4

dealing with participants

Answer 4

• informed consent, confidentiality and protection from harm
• should all be considered in socially sensitive psychological research
  eg. examining victims of domestic abuse

Question 5

how findings are used

Answer 5

• researchers should consider how their finding might be used to inform public thinking or policy
• in the past ethnic differences were supposedly found in IQ tests and has led to discrimination and prejudice

Question 6

evaluation of ethical implications

Answer 6

reduce prejudice
real world application
poor research

Question 7

reduce prejudice : EVALUATION OF ETHICAL IMPLICATIONS

Answer 7

• a strength of condcting socially sensitive research is that it can help reduce prejudice
• increases our understanding of certain groups

Question 8

real world application : EVALUATION OF ETHICAL IMPLICATIONS

Answer 8

• governments look at socially sensitive research to inform policies

Question 9

poor research : EVALUATION OF ETHICAL IMPLICATIONS

Answer 9

• poor research into socially sensitive topics can have a lasting impact

e.g. Cyril Burt claimed intelligence was highly heritable
- led to the creation of the 11 plus examination
- much of hi research was fake