Discuss Ethical Implications Present by Research Studies
AO1 Ethical implications are the consequences of any research in terms of the effects on
individual participants or on the way in which certain groups of people are
subsequently regarded. There may also be consequences on a wider societal level.
Socially sensitive research is studies in which there are potential consequences or
implications, either directly for the participants in the research or for the class of
individual represented by the research as defined by Sieber and Stanley.
Potential ethical issues are privacy, confidentiality, valid methodology, deception,
informed consent, risk/ benefit ratio and respectful treatment.
An example of socially sensitive research is Bowlby’s monotropic theory of
attachment which states that if a child does not form an attachment within the
critical period (first 30 months) they will be unable to form future attachments as it
affects their internal working model.
Another example is Milgram’s electric shock experiment where participants were put
through a distressing experience in which were they unable to provide informed
consent. However, they were debriefed after and interviewed to assess for any long-
term effects. The importance of these findings and their benefits to society justified
the way the research was conducted.
In order to deal with such ethical implications, they came up with 4 considerations;
the research should not be seen as giving credence to existing stereotypes, all
information should be confidential, have informed consent and protect from
psychological harm and implications of research should not impact the participants
of the study.
AO2 1. When deciding whether certain research projects should be allowed to continue,
ethics committees undergo a cost-benefit analysis, where the benefit of the
research (such as contribution to the existing field of knowledge) is compared to
the costs of breaching ethical guidelines. However, some ethical implications of
socially sensitive research may be particularly difficult to predict.
2. Ethical issues could prevent valuable research being done as nowadays; many
researchers are inhibited over what research can be conducted due to ethical
guidelines which prevents us from obtaining potentially life improving findings.
Although the research conducted in the past would not pass ethical guidelines,
such as Little Albert demonstrating how classical conditioning can lead to the
acquisition of a phobia, it did provide us with useful findings which lead to the
development of treatments (counterconditioning) which are still used today to
treat phobias. We could argue that in terms of cost- benefit analysis, it is worth
the harm caused.
3. Excessive concern over the ethical implications of the research topics such as
sexuality or gender can lead to these groups becoming underrepresented in
psychological research meaning we have less of an understanding about minority
groups.
4. There are also negative consequences of socially sensitive research for example,
research on the genetic basis of criminality has found there is a criminal gene.
This research has been used to excuse criminal behaviour as they cannot be held
responsible for their wrong doings. This raises the need for consideration of the
possible outcomes of the research.
5. Important that researchers don’t stray away from socially sensitive research as
some can benefit society as it has major positive impacts such as challenging. For
example, research examining the use of children in eye-witness testimony has
found them to be reliable witnesses when questioned in an appropriate manner.
6. Social control- this is a limitation of socially sensitive research as it has often been
used as justification for discriminatory practises. For example, in the 1920’s some
AO1 Ethical implications are the consequences of any research in terms of the effects on
individual participants or on the way in which certain groups of people are
subsequently regarded. There may also be consequences on a wider societal level.
Socially sensitive research is studies in which there are potential consequences or
implications, either directly for the participants in the research or for the class of
individual represented by the research as defined by Sieber and Stanley.
Potential ethical issues are privacy, confidentiality, valid methodology, deception,
informed consent, risk/ benefit ratio and respectful treatment.
An example of socially sensitive research is Bowlby’s monotropic theory of
attachment which states that if a child does not form an attachment within the
critical period (first 30 months) they will be unable to form future attachments as it
affects their internal working model.
Another example is Milgram’s electric shock experiment where participants were put
through a distressing experience in which were they unable to provide informed
consent. However, they were debriefed after and interviewed to assess for any long-
term effects. The importance of these findings and their benefits to society justified
the way the research was conducted.
In order to deal with such ethical implications, they came up with 4 considerations;
the research should not be seen as giving credence to existing stereotypes, all
information should be confidential, have informed consent and protect from
psychological harm and implications of research should not impact the participants
of the study.
AO2 1. When deciding whether certain research projects should be allowed to continue,
ethics committees undergo a cost-benefit analysis, where the benefit of the
research (such as contribution to the existing field of knowledge) is compared to
the costs of breaching ethical guidelines. However, some ethical implications of
socially sensitive research may be particularly difficult to predict.
2. Ethical issues could prevent valuable research being done as nowadays; many
researchers are inhibited over what research can be conducted due to ethical
guidelines which prevents us from obtaining potentially life improving findings.
Although the research conducted in the past would not pass ethical guidelines,
such as Little Albert demonstrating how classical conditioning can lead to the
acquisition of a phobia, it did provide us with useful findings which lead to the
development of treatments (counterconditioning) which are still used today to
treat phobias. We could argue that in terms of cost- benefit analysis, it is worth
the harm caused.
3. Excessive concern over the ethical implications of the research topics such as
sexuality or gender can lead to these groups becoming underrepresented in
psychological research meaning we have less of an understanding about minority
groups.
4. There are also negative consequences of socially sensitive research for example,
research on the genetic basis of criminality has found there is a criminal gene.
This research has been used to excuse criminal behaviour as they cannot be held
responsible for their wrong doings. This raises the need for consideration of the
possible outcomes of the research.
5. Important that researchers don’t stray away from socially sensitive research as
some can benefit society as it has major positive impacts such as challenging. For
example, research examining the use of children in eye-witness testimony has
found them to be reliable witnesses when questioned in an appropriate manner.
6. Social control- this is a limitation of socially sensitive research as it has often been
used as justification for discriminatory practises. For example, in the 1920’s some
