Ethical Implications of Research (AQA A-Level Psychology): Revision Notes
Ethical Implications of Research
Understanding ethical implications
The consideration of ethical implications is an essential part of psychological research and theory development. When researchers fail to consider how their work might impact participants, the research process, or society more broadly, the consequences can be negative and far-reaching. The level of social sensitivity must always be evaluated during research planning.
Ethical implications refer to the consequences of conducting psychological research in unethical ways, affecting both participants and wider society. These implications extend beyond the immediate research setting and can have lasting effects on various groups and communities.
Social sensitivity in research
Social sensitivity describes research that has ethical implications extending beyond the immediate research context. This type of research may impact people or groups within society, potentially affecting participants' friends, families, researchers themselves, or broader social groups.
Sieber and Stanley identified four key aspects of socially sensitive research that require ethical consideration:
- The research question being investigated
- The methodology employed
- The institutional context
- The interpretation and application of findings
Groups potentially affected by socially sensitive research
Several groups may be impacted by psychological research:
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Research participants: Individuals taking part in studies, whose friends and families may also be affected by the findings or their participation
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Researchers: Scientists conducting the work may face personal or professional consequences, potentially affecting their institutions
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Social groups: Sub-cultures, religious groups, ethnic minorities, or groups with specific characteristics (such as particular sexual preferences) may be impacted by research findings
The failure to consider these wider implications represents a research oversight that can lead to unintended harm.
Examples of socially sensitive research
Key studies demonstrating ethical concerns
Worked Example: Lowney (1995) - Satanist teenagers study
Participants: Group of teenage Satanists in the USA
Procedure: Lowney observed and recorded teenagers' daily activities, which included underage drinking, drug use, and music listening. She interpreted findings to suggest participants had become Satanists through peer influence in high schools
Ethical concerns: Research created difficulties for participants following publication, including parental backlash, community condemnation, and peer exclusion due to the direct criticism of high school social groups
Worked Example: Humphreys (1970) - Public toilet study
Participants: Homosexual men meeting in public toilets
Procedure: Humphreys, a heterosexual researcher, posed as a gay man and observed participants. He noted car number plates and later used police contacts to obtain addresses for follow-up contact
Ethical concerns: The timing coincided with limited homosexual acceptance in society. Major privacy breaches occurred when police accessed participant identity information. The research was highly invasive and sensationalised, despite potentially positive outcomes for the gay community
Worked Example: Raine (1996) - Brain scans of violent criminals
Participants: Violent criminals
Procedure: Brain scanning technology examined violent criminals for impulse control issues. Raine discovered brain damage in most participants, particularly in the frontal lobe responsible for impulse control. He suggested these findings could help identify people predisposed to violent behaviour and potentially prevent future criminal activity
Ethical concerns: The study raises concerns about using brain scans to identify potentially violent children. Questions arise about how society should respond to such identification - what interventions would be appropriate for the identified individuals, their families, and communities?
Historical context: Bystander behaviour research
Worked Example: Bystander Behaviour Research (1960s)
Research into bystander behaviour emerged following the tragic murder of Kitty Genovese in the 1960s, where reportedly over 30 witnesses failed to intervene or call for help. This incident prompted investigation into why people sometimes fail to assist others in emergency situations.
Procedure: The resulting research involved creating mock emergency scenarios to observe participant responses.
Outcomes: Although these studies provided valuable insights into human helping behaviour, they also caused distress to participants who believed they were witnessing real emergencies. This research challenged current ethical standards, yet researchers argued that the potential knowledge benefits outweighed the temporary distress caused to participants.
Interesting finding: When participants were later asked whether they felt the research was justified and would participate again, they responded affirmatively, suggesting some acceptance of the methodology despite the ethical concerns.
Current ethical frameworks
Research today operates under strict ethical guidelines managed by ethics committees within institutions. These committees evaluate proposed research to determine potential impacts and affected parties. Their primary function involves minimising risk by requesting design modifications while weighing potential knowledge benefits against involved risks.
Role of ethics committees
Ethics committees make decisions about research approval based on several factors:
- Assessment of potential participants and affected groups
- Evaluation of possible harm to researchers, participants, and society
- Consideration of knowledge benefits versus ethical risks
- Requirements for design modifications to reduce ethical concerns
However, this decision-making process is not entirely objective, creating potential for bias among committee members. This subjectivity means that socially sensitive research continues to present challenges.
Evaluation of ethical guidelines
Strengths of current ethical frameworks
Comprehensive protection: The British Psychological Society's ethical code, combined with university ethics boards, ensures that ethical implications must be considered before research proceeds. Guidelines have become increasingly rigorous over time, reducing the likelihood of research causing problems.
Risk-benefit analysis: Ethics committees systematically evaluate whether research benefits justify potential costs, providing a structured approach to ethical decision-making.
Limitations of ethical frameworks
Subjective decision-making: Determining research effects on participants and society involves subjective judgement rather than objective criteria. This subjectivity creates potential for bias and means that socially sensitive research remains problematic.
Overly restrictive guidelines: Some argue that current ethical requirements are too strict, potentially preventing research that could benefit many people. The inability to conduct certain studies due to ethical restrictions may limit valuable scientific knowledge.
Balance challenges: Finding the appropriate balance between protecting participants and advancing psychological knowledge remains difficult and contentious.
Application across psychological topics
Ethical implications extend across numerous areas of psychology:
Relationships research: Studies investigating reproductive behaviour or relationship problems could negatively affect participants and cause relationship breakdown.
Gender studies: Research into gender differences may reinforce harmful stereotypes, particularly affecting individuals with gender-related disorders who already face societal stigma.
Developmental psychology: Work on autism and parenting styles has implications for families, though some research in this area has been challenged or refuted.
Mental health research: Studies on schizophrenia, eating disorders, and addiction raise questions about diagnosis, treatment approaches, and individual responsibility for recovery.
Forensic psychology: Genetic explanations for criminal behaviour have wide-reaching implications for individuals, families, and the justice system, potentially affecting how society views criminal responsibility.
Social psychology: Research like Milgram's obedience studies raises questions about human nature and social control, with implications for how findings might be applied in society.
Key Points to Remember:
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Ethical implications are the consequences of conducting psychological research in unethical ways, affecting participants and wider society
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Social sensitivity refers to research with ethical implications beyond the immediate research setting, potentially affecting multiple groups
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Historical studies like Lowney's, Humphreys', and Raine's demonstrate various types of ethical concerns in psychological research
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Ethics committees now evaluate research proposals to balance potential benefits against ethical risks, though this process involves subjective judgement
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Ethical considerations apply across all areas of psychology, from relationships and development to forensic and social psychology