Issues and debates - Ethical implications of research

Question 1

What are the ethical implications of research in psychology?

Answer 1

-Considering how the findings from psychological research could go on to actually influence the lives of the individuals that were studied, the subgroups investigated and the wider society

Question 2

What are the effects of psychological research on the participants involved with the study?

Answer 2

-The effects on the participants could be: Taking part in the research was directly distressing, stigma from friends, family or the media

Question 3

What are the effects of psychological research on the wider public?

Answer 3

• The findings could result in subgroups becoming stigmatised negative changes in wider society’s behaviour
• Biased reporting could misrepresent the findings
• The findings could be used by governments to justify political decisions/laws that disadvantage certain groups
• Funding for future psychological research could be affected

Question 4

What is social sensitivity?

Answer 4

• Sieber and Stanley stated that socially sensitive studies are: “Studies in which there are potential social consequences or implications, either directly for the participants in research or the class of individuals represented by the research”
• The researcher has a duty to consider ethical implications and take steps to address them
• Following ethical guidelines in protecting participants, such as offering counselling support and ensuring confidentiality
• Conducting a cost-benefit analysis considering if the potential long term benefits of the research outweigh any short term costs

Question 5

What are some examples of socially sensitive research studies?

Answer 5

• Bowlby’s studies effects working mothers
• Studies on the diagnosis of mental health
• Cognitive explanations may blame the victim due to their explanation that illness is due to faulty thought processing
• Biological studies on crime and aggression may seem to give excuses to criminals

Question 6

How does research conducted by Sieber and Stanley explain how researchers can deal with the implications of their studies?

Answer 6

• Sieber and Stanley state that researchers should carefully choose the research question methodology, how the information is going to be used in the institutional context and how it could be interpreted by society
• This is a process of reflexivity as the researcher must carefully consider their own role, responsibilities and influential position

Question 7

What is a weakness of considering the ethical implications of psychological research?

Answer 7

-Excessive concern over socially sensitive research can lead to researchers avoiding topics such as ethnicity, gender or sexuality which means that individuals in these groups could become under-represented in psychological research

Question 8

Why is it important that researchers consider the ethical implication of their research?

Answer 8

• Not considering the publics responses to socially sensitive research can lead to negative effects for psychology as an area for study
• Research by Milgram, Zimbardo and Harlow damaged psychology’s reputation and this can lead to less funding