Ethical implications

Question 1

Socially sensitive research

Answer 1

Studies in which there are potential consequences or implications, either directly for the participants involved in the research or for the class of individuals represented by the researcher.

Question 2

Sieber and Stanley (1988) - 4 groups that may be affected by psychological research

Answer 2

1. Members of the social group being studied such as racial or ethnic group. For example, early research on IQ was used to discriminate against African-American citizens in the US.
2. Friends and relatives of those taking part in the study, particularly in case studies, where individuals may become famous or infamous e.g. Genie’s mother
3. The research team. There are examples of researchers being intimidated because of the line of research they are in.
4. The institution in which the research is conducted

Question 3

Examples of socially sensitive research (with wider implications)

Answer 3

Zimbardo
Kohlberg
Milgram
Sheridan and King
Bobo Doll

Question 4

Implications of socially sensitive research

Answer 4

The wider effects of the research should be carefully considered as some studies may give scientific credence to prejudice and discrimination

Question 5

Uses /public policy of socially sensitive research

Answer 5

The researcher needs to consider the research and what purpose it could be used for.
It could be used for political ends to shape public policy by governments
e.g. Bowlby’s research led to maternity cover, eugenics movement led to thousands of people being sterilised as they were not deemed as genetically fit to society, 11+ (IQ deemed to be genetic, when heritability coefficient is 0.5)

Question 6

Validity of research

Answer 6

Although research is supposed to be objective and value-free, this is not always the case; the researcher should be mindful of how the data is going to be used and consider who is funding the research.
Reflexivity is needed
Antidepressants: over-publication

Question 7

Benefits of Milgram’s study

Answer 7

Milgram’s research opened up a great deal of debate and stimulated efforts to improve ethical considerations in psychology research.
If we accept Milgram’s findings then we cannot naively claim certain races are more cruel than others. We must accept the majority behave in immoral ways depending on certain circumstances.
Many new psychologists are attracted to psychology because of such interesting early research.

Question 8

Costs of Milgram’s study

Answer 8

No real consideration to mental harm or physical initially
Deception used
No right to withdraw offered
No fully informed consent gained
Research an excuse for people who have committed immoral acts
Alibi for the Nazis

Question 9

Who gains - Social policy (negative evaluation)

Answer 9

1950’s - subliminal messages (Packard, 1957). A study claimed sales of Coca Cola and Popcorn increased significantly when images of them are flashed up on cinema screens, too quickly for audiences to be aware of them.
Sieber and Stanley recommend researchers should consider this when interpreting and applying their findings to ensure psychological research does no indirect harm to other members of society.

Question 10

Social control - negative evaluation

Answer 10

The fact that socially sensitive research has been used to ‘prop up’ discriminatory practices in the past is an argument against its widespread adoption
Use of examining racial differences in IQ has been used to justify forms of social control.

Question 11

Ethical implications in socially sensitive research

Answer 11

Sieber and Stanley (1988) identified three concerns researchers should be mindful of when conducting socially sensitive research:
Implications
Uses/public policy
Validity of the research

Question 12

Doll test method - exploring positive impacts of socially sensitive research

Answer 12

Doll test method:
250 Black children, ages three to seven, were presented with four dolls that were identical except for skin and hair colour. Two of the dolls had brown skin and black hair, and two of the dolls had white skin and yellow hair.
1. Give me the doll that you like to play with or like the best.
2. Give me the doll that is a nice doll
3. Give me the doll that looks bad
4. Give me the doll that is a nice colour
To assess racial preferences, the children were presented with the four dolls and responded to the following requests by picking one of the dolls and handing it to the experimenter.

Question 13

Results - Doll test

Answer 13

87% of the children correctly self-identified by choosing the brown dolls as the one who looked like them
67% of the children chose the white doll as the doll they wanted to play with.
59% indicated that the white doll was the nice doll.
59% indicated the brown doll looked bad

Question 14

Results and conclusions from doll test method

Answer 14

The Clarks found that many of the southern children appeared to have internalised a passive, resigned acceptance of their inferior status, while children in the non-segregated schools seemed more aware of the unfairness of racial discrimination and were more upset by it.
They concluded that integration was a key to helping children, both Black and white, achieve positive self-identification and to reduce racism.
The Clarks presented their results at several school desegregation trials, which led to segregation being overruled in schools in 1954

Question 15

Negative evaluation - costs and benefits might be difficult to predict

Answer 15

Although potential research is scrutinised by an ethics committee, some of the consequences of research involving vulnerable groups might be difficult to anticipate.
Assessments of the ‘worth’ of such research are typically subjective and the real impact of the research can only ever be known once it has been made public.
May be particularly difficult to manage once the research is ‘out there.’

Question 16

Considerations of socially sensitive research

Answer 16

The considerations outlined by Sieber and Stanley provide a mechanism to safeguard individuals who are indirectly affected by psychological research.
Because of the problems associated with socially sensitive research, it is not sufficient to simply safeguard the interests of the participants taking part in the research.
For example, the current ethical guidelines do not require researchers to consider how their findings may be used by other people or institutions to form and /or shape public social policy.

Question 17

Benefits of socially sensitive research

Answer 17

Scarr (1988) argues that studies of under-represented groups and issues may promote greater understanding to help reduce prejudice and encourage acceptance.
Socially sensitive research can benefit society as a whole - for example, research into unreliability of EWT has reduced the risk of miscarriages of justice within the legal system.
This suggests socially sensitive research may play a valuable role in society.

Question 18

Framing the question - supporting

Answer 18

Sieber and Stanley (1988) warn that how research questions are phrased and investigated may influence the ways findings are interpreted.
For example, research into alternative relationships has been guilty of a heterosexual bias in that gay relationships have been judged against heterosexual norms (Coyle and Kitzinger)
This suggests researchers can misrepresent minority groups.
Reflexivity - acknowledge own bias in research