Be aware!

There is disagreement as to whether conducting socially sensitive research is:

• An issue or a debate. Those who argue that it is a debate identify two positions:  
  • psychologists should conduct socially sensitive research
  • psychologists should not conduct research that is socially sensitive.
• A methodological issue (how the research is conducted determines its social sensitivity).
• An ethical issue. Those who argue that it is an ethical issue suggest that the consequences of socially sensitive research could be harmful to particular groups of people.
• An issue of epistemology (what constitutes meaningful evidence / insight).

Summary of the Debate

Conducting Socially Sensitive Research = Socially sensitive research can S.C.A.R.

• Subject to social norms     
• Controversial   
• Able to shape the law / policy   
• Risking stereotyping and prejudice

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What is the Issue?

Sieber and Stanley (1988) used this term to describe studies where there are potential social consequences for the Ps or the group of people represented by the research. Socially sensitive research is…

• Controversial
• Risking stereotyping and prejudice
• Subject to social values / norms
• Able to shape the law

 4 aspects of the scientific research process that raise ethical implications in socially sensitive research:

• The Research Question: The researcher must consider their research question carefully. Asking questions like ‘Are there racial differences in IQ?’ or ‘Is intelligence inherited?’ may be damaging to members of a particular group.
• The Methodology Used: The researcher needs to consider the treatment of the participant's and their right to confidentiality and anonymity, e.g. if a P admits to committing crime, should the researcher maintain confidentiality?
• The Institutional Context: The researcher should be mindful of how the data is going to be used and consider who is funding the research. If the research is funded by a private institution or organisation, why are they funding the research and how do they intend to use the findings?
• Interpretation and Application of Findings: Finally, the researcher needs to consider how their findings might be interpreted and applied in the real-world. Could their data or results be used to inform policy?

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Reasons FOR and AGAINST conducting socially sensitive research

Socially Sensitive Research should be done

• Some psychologists argue that ignoring socially sensitive areas is abandoning our ‘social responsibilities’.
• Not all socially sensitive research is controversial (e.g. Sperry)
• Some is beneficial to society (e.g. Loftus and Palmer)
• Psychologists should be free to carry out whatever research is important to them because if governments start passing laws to prohibit certain kinds of research, then there is a danger that research will be stopped for political rather than for ethical reasons. 

Problems with Socially Sensitive Research

• Interest of the Ps taking part
• Indirect impact on the participant’s family and co-workers
• How the findings may be used by other people or institutions to form and/or shape public social policy
• Harm to people and marginalised groups (e.g. with disabilities, the elderly, poor) who are largely excluded from research
• Some psychologists suggest that we should avoid research into sensitive topics, including race, gender and sexuality.

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Comparing the Debate with Other Debates
Free Will / Determinism
Deterministic explanations can lead to socially sensitive research as they suggest there is a clear cause for behaviour. This can lead to labelling and discrimination and may remove personal responsibility.

Nature/nurture
A lot of socially sensitive research is about the genetic basis of behaviour and so is the nature side of debate.

Reductionism / Holism
Reductionist as often socially sensitive research focuses on a specific trait such as sex or race, as the cause of a behaviour.

Individual / situational explanations
The danger of attributing the cause of behaviour to individual factors is that it can lead to socially sensitive research as the implications of findings could suggest that a person’s race, age, gender or disability cause behaviours. This can cause social stigmas and discrimination.  

Usefulness
Often socially sensitive research has useful applications but the validity of research can be questioned

Ethics
Often socially sensitive research causes psychological harm

Psych as a Science
Research must try to be scientific if it is to be trusted and to reduce implications of socially sensitive research such as incorrect interpretations of data.

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