Summary of the Debate
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Conducting Socially Sensitive Research = Socially sensitive research can S.C.A.R.
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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…
4 aspects of the scientific research process that raise ethical implications in socially sensitive research:
- 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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Another clip to watch
Don't worry that the clip says AQA - it is just as relevant to OCR |
Reasons FOR and AGAINST conducting socially sensitive research
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Socially Sensitive Research should be done
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Problems with Socially Sensitive Research
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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.
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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