Issues and Debates (Ethical Implications)

Question 1

What are ethical implications??

Answer 1

Psychological research can have far-reaching effects beyond the study’s immediate context!

Question 2

What are the ethical implications of Milgram’s shock experiment (1963)??

Answer 2

Ppts could develop issues with authority or trust
HOWEVER
after debriefing and interviews, they declared they no longer suffered from long-term effects
MEANING
it could have positive implications: useful in society in determining factors that affect obedience to authority

Question 3

What are the ethical implications of Bowlby’s Monotropic Theory (1969)??

Answer 3

May encourage view that women should stay home, implying a patriarchal and stereotypical view of female roles!

Question 4

Who developed the term ‘socially sensitive topics’??

Answer 4

Sieber and Stanley!

Question 5

What are socially sensitive topics??

Answer 5

Topics that could be controversial/offensive. Refers to research with potential consequences/implications

Question 6

What is said about the importance of ‘socially sensitive topics’??

Answer 6

Psychologists have social responsibility to do socially sensitive research instead of avoiding it.
It has undoubtable importance

Question 7

Why should the wider effects of research be carefully considered??

Answer 7

Some studies may be seen as giving scientific ‘credence’ to discrimination

Question 8

What are the 3 AO3 points for Ethical Implications??

Answer 8

• Not all socially sensitive research is controversial
• Provides broader safeguarding
• Can cause discrimination

Question 9

Give an example of socially sensitive research that isn’t controversial! (AO3)

Answer 9

Flin et al (1993)
Examined EWT using children, found that they can be reliable witnesses. However, only if they’re questioned in a timely and appropriate manner (children can forget easily).

Socially sensitive research has improved accuracy and validity of child eyewitnesses so some socially sensitive research is beneficial to society!

Question 10

How do Ethical Implications provide broader safeguarding?? (AO3)

Answer 10

Sieber and Stanley provide a mechanism to safeguard individuals that could be affected by socially sensitive research. Whereas current ethical guidelines only focus on people involved in the study.

Question 11

How can socially sensitive research lead to discrimination?? (AO3)

Answer 11

Research into certain demographics could be used as evidence for discrimination. For example, in 1972, 2,000 black men and women were involuntarily sterilised.

Also, in the book ‘The Bell Curve’, it was said that research proved race impacted intellectual ability.