Ethical implications of research studies and theory Issues and debates
Ethical implications describe the impact that research especially socially sensitive research is
likely to have on the rights of people, how a group is regarded, and stereotypes that may
occur. These ethical issues tend to stem from research where conflict occurs between
validity and the privacy of participants. So ethical guidelines were produced to protect
those involved both during and after, however it’s difficult to protect certain groups and
participants from misrepresentations in the media and the wider implications.
The more socially sensitive a piece of research is the more ethical implications that are likely
to come with it such as research into sexuality or race as may cause unwanted media
attention. However, it is argued by Sieber and Stanely that such research should still be
conducted due to its undoubted importance that the researchers still have social
responsibility to conduct research into ‘taboo topics’. But the researchers must be aware of
the negative implications that the research may have such as discrimination or sterilization
of black women, and whether it would be misused or whether it’s actually valid.
One criticism of socially sensitive research is that it can lead to culture bias in the form of
ethnocentrism and create or enforce negative stereotypes. As highlighted by Sieber and
Stanley 1988 in the importance of wording and how they may be interpreted, as in the case
of US army IQ test where a western test ended up showing immigrants as less intelligent (an
example of imposed etic of one culture value onto another). A consequence which lead to
ethical implications of the enforcement of racial discrimination and hate towards this
particular culture due to their lower intelligence scores.
However, one benefit of socially sensitive research is it can create a greater understanding
of unrepresented groups in our population. For example, this can help reduce prejudice and
encourage acceptance due to a greater sensitivity as people understand that particular
group better. Such as the importance of young children’s eyewitness testimonies as they
can be just as accurate if questioned in a timely and appropriate manner, which the
application of socially sensitive research helped to improve validity of eyewitness
testimonies showing it can have a positive effect on minority or vulnerable groups not just a
negative one.
To ensure the use of social sensitive research is what it was attended for and responsibility
researchers must engage with the society. This reduces the risk of such research being
misinterpreted and should take responsibility for what happens to and how their findings
are applied attempting to prevent adding scientific credibility to prevailing prejudice. For
example, Eagly 1978 claimed that women are less effective leaders but he made clear the
purpose was due to improve training for women to improve not open them to prejudice.
This suggests that researchers should support their research by promoting it in a socially
sensitive position not taking a neutral position.
Ethical implications describe the impact that research especially socially sensitive research is
likely to have on the rights of people, how a group is regarded, and stereotypes that may
occur. These ethical issues tend to stem from research where conflict occurs between
validity and the privacy of participants. So ethical guidelines were produced to protect
those involved both during and after, however it’s difficult to protect certain groups and
participants from misrepresentations in the media and the wider implications.
The more socially sensitive a piece of research is the more ethical implications that are likely
to come with it such as research into sexuality or race as may cause unwanted media
attention. However, it is argued by Sieber and Stanely that such research should still be
conducted due to its undoubted importance that the researchers still have social
responsibility to conduct research into ‘taboo topics’. But the researchers must be aware of
the negative implications that the research may have such as discrimination or sterilization
of black women, and whether it would be misused or whether it’s actually valid.
One criticism of socially sensitive research is that it can lead to culture bias in the form of
ethnocentrism and create or enforce negative stereotypes. As highlighted by Sieber and
Stanley 1988 in the importance of wording and how they may be interpreted, as in the case
of US army IQ test where a western test ended up showing immigrants as less intelligent (an
example of imposed etic of one culture value onto another). A consequence which lead to
ethical implications of the enforcement of racial discrimination and hate towards this
particular culture due to their lower intelligence scores.
However, one benefit of socially sensitive research is it can create a greater understanding
of unrepresented groups in our population. For example, this can help reduce prejudice and
encourage acceptance due to a greater sensitivity as people understand that particular
group better. Such as the importance of young children’s eyewitness testimonies as they
can be just as accurate if questioned in a timely and appropriate manner, which the
application of socially sensitive research helped to improve validity of eyewitness
testimonies showing it can have a positive effect on minority or vulnerable groups not just a
negative one.
To ensure the use of social sensitive research is what it was attended for and responsibility
researchers must engage with the society. This reduces the risk of such research being
misinterpreted and should take responsibility for what happens to and how their findings
are applied attempting to prevent adding scientific credibility to prevailing prejudice. For
example, Eagly 1978 claimed that women are less effective leaders but he made clear the
purpose was due to improve training for women to improve not open them to prejudice.
This suggests that researchers should support their research by promoting it in a socially
sensitive position not taking a neutral position.
