Ethical Implications of Research Studies and Theory

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  • Created by: 0045253
  • Created on: 12-06-22 14:05
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  • Ethical Implications
    • Social sensitive research refers to ‘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’
    • Sieber and Stanley identified four aspects in the research process in which ethical issues with social consequences may occur
      • The research question
        • question that researchers ask could be damaging to members of a particular group  because it could add scientific support to current prejudices.
      • Conduct of research
        • main concerns should be the confidentiality of the information collected 
      • The institutional context
        • Research that is funded and managed by private institutions can produce data that has the potential to be misused and/or be misunderstood
      • Interpretation and application of findings
        • Research findings may be used for purposes other than originally intended.
    • Ethical Implications of Research Studies
      • :  The consideration provide a mechanism to safeguard individuals who are indirectly affected by psychological research
      • There is also the potential for an indirect impact on the participant’s family and co-workers, and therefore it is important for researchers to consider the wider implications of their research.
    • Ethical Implications of Theories
      • Bowlby’s Theory of Attachment suggests that children form one special attachment bond, usually with their mother, which must take place within a critical period.
        • Bowlby also suggested that this attachment bond affects their future relationships through an internal working model.
          • it has encouraged the view that a women’s place is at home with her children, which could make some mothers feel guilty for wanting to return to work, following childbirth.
    • STRENGTH
      • P - Because there are difficulties with socially sensitive research, we might think that it would be better to try to avoid it and save minority groups from the negative consequences. 
        • E -  Scarr (1988) has argued that studies of underrepresented groups and issues may generate a greater sensitivity and understanding of these areas which can also  create wider benefits for society
          • E - Sieber and Stanley believe that to ignore sensitive research is not a responsible approach to science, an avoidance of responsibility.  
            • L - Therefore psychologists have a duty to conduct socially sensitive research.
      • P - However, it is important to recognise that not all socially sensitive research is controversial and some is desirable and beneficial to society.
        • E - For example, research examining eye-witness testimony, especially the use of child-witnesses
          • E - Research by Flin et al  found that young children can be reliable witnesses if they are questioned in a timely and appropriate manner.
            • L - In this area, socially sensitive research has resulted in a good working relationship between psychologists and the legal profession to help improve the accuracy and validity of children eye-witnesses.
    • WEAKNESS
      • P - Many groups in society  have suffered the consequences of having been excluded from research or have been misrepresented when they have been included.  
        • E -  Because they have suffered misrepresentation, they may have also missed out on the benefits of research.
          • E - Furthermore, there is also the increased potential for a more indirect impact on the participant’s family, their co-workers, or maybe even the group that the participant represents 
            • L - Researchers must therefore go beyond safeguarding the interests of the individual in research and take into consideration the likely impact of the research on the larger group of which the participant is a member.
      • P - The issues with conducting socially sensitive research are why some psychologists simply suggest that we should avoid conducting such research.
        • E - Some psychologists believe that such research could have a negative impact for the participants. However, this would probably leave researchers with nothing but trivial questions to investigate.
          • E -  A more acceptable solution might be for psychologists to engage more actively with policy makers after the publication of their findings.
            • L - This may help to reduce the likelihood that data is misused and to ensure that evidence-based research is used in socially sensitive ways. 

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