When must researchers be mindful of the impact of their research on participants?

Researchers must be mindful of the impact both at the time the research takes place and when the research is published .

Give two ethical dilemmas researchers face when conducting research.

Dilemmas include: how much to tell participants (to satisfy informed consent ) versus how much to conceal to keep the findings valid how far participants can be put under stressful conditions without it becoming physically or psychologically harmful

How are participants and researchers protected by ethical guidelines?

The BPS and APA publish codes of ethics and conduct , and research proposals are reviewed by ethics committees to ensure that both participants and researchers are protected.

How might the media misrepresent a finding that a gene reduces control over anger?

The media might report it as 'X gene means you're a psychopath!' ; once research is published, researchers can do very little about how the media interpret and present the findings.

How could a theory linking schizophrenia to PTSD have harmful implications?

War veterans , survivors of abuse and others with PTSD could be discriminated against , with their PTSD symptoms viewed as 'evidence' that schizophrenia is developing.

Define social sensitivity in psychological research.

Social sensitivity refers to research that has the potential to impact the participants studied or the wider group they represent , in either positive or negative ways, which could change how those groups are treated or perceived .

Why can socially sensitive topics have negative consequences if handled badly?

The findings could be interpreted or even manipulated by external sources such as the media , with negative consequences for the groups involved.

Give an example of a socially sensitive research topic.

Examples include: drug addiction in a population of homeless people the stereotyping of women aged 18-25 the experience of refugees who have entered a country seeking asylum

True or False? Research into 'hot topics' such as race is especially prone to media scrutiny.

True. Research into criminality, addiction, sexuality, gender and race is particularly prone to scrutiny from both mass media and social media platforms .

Reflexivity involves the researcher examining their own assumptions, beliefs and prejudices about the topic and being critical about how these could influence their choices before, during and after the research.

How can socially sensitive research benefit minority groups?

It gives minority or underrepresented groups the 'spotlight', allowing perspectives, attitudes and experiences other than those of the dominant group to be heard, which widens the social and cultural landscape .

How did Rosenhan's (1973) study show a benefit of socially sensitive research?

Rosenhan highlighted the de-humanising treatment of patients in US mental hospitals, leading to a review of how such institutions were run and their potential for labelling people by their illness.

How did Burt's research perpetuate bias and discrimination?

Burt's research on the heritability of intelligence helped establish the 11+ examination in the UK, which segregated children by IQ ; he was later found to have invented much of his data, including a heritability coefficient of .77 from twin studies, and was publicly discredited .

Why must researchers avoid exploiting participants in sensitive research?

Participants may be vulnerable , e.g. Griffiths (1994) asked regular gamblers to play on slot machines , which could reinforce their need to gamble, pushing the boundaries of what is ethical.

True or False? Socially sensitive research should be avoided because it is difficult to manage.

False. Socially sensitive research can be difficult to negotiate and manage, but this does not mean it should be avoided, as it can bring hugely beneficial consequences .

What beneficial consequences can socially sensitive research bring?

Benefits include: challenging stereotypes, preconceived ideas and prejudice policy changes and additional funding for underrepresented groups refuting 'scientific justifications' that were based on discrimination

How has socially sensitive research been used to justify discrimination?

In the 1920s and 30s many US states enacted legislation leading to the compulsory sterilisation of people labelled 'unfit to breed' , including disabled people, those with mental illness and drug addicts , based on fraudulent research and fake findings.

Murray and Herrnstein's (1994) book ' ' pushed a biased, political agenda under the guise of research into IQ.

Murray and Herrnstein's (1994) book ' The Bell Curve ' pushed a biased, political agenda under the guise of research into IQ.

A LevelPsychologyAQAFlashcardsIssues & Debates (Section A)Social Sensitivity in Psychological Research

Social Sensitivity in Psychological Research (AQA A Level Psychology): Flashcards

Exam code: 7182

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FrontSocial Sensitivity in Psychological Research
When must researchers be mindful of the impact of their research on participants?
FrontSocial Sensitivity in Psychological Research
Give two ethical dilemmas researchers face when conducting research.
BackSocial Sensitivity in Psychological Research
Dilemmas include:
how much to tell participants (to satisfy informed consent) versus how much to conceal to keep the findings valid
how far participants can be put under stressful conditions without it becoming physically or psychologically harmful

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Cards in this collection (18)

When must researchers be mindful of the impact of their research on participants?
Researchers must be mindful of the impact both at the time the research takes place and when the research is published.
Give two ethical dilemmas researchers face when conducting research.
Dilemmas include:
- how much to tell participants (to satisfy informed consent) versus how much to conceal to keep the findings valid
- how far participants can be put under stressful conditions without it becoming physically or psychologically harmful
How are participants and researchers protected by ethical guidelines?
The BPS and APA publish codes of ethics and conduct, and research proposals are reviewed by ethics committees to ensure that both participants and researchers are protected.
How might the media misrepresent a finding that a gene reduces control over anger?
The media might report it as 'X gene means you're a psychopath!'; once research is published, researchers can do very little about how the media interpret and present the findings.
How could a theory linking schizophrenia to PTSD have harmful implications?
War veterans, survivors of abuse and others with PTSD could be discriminated against, with their PTSD symptoms viewed as 'evidence' that schizophrenia is developing.
Define social sensitivity in psychological research.
Social sensitivity refers to research that has the potential to impact the participants studied or the wider group they represent, in either positive or negative ways, which could change how those groups are treated or perceived.
Why can socially sensitive topics have negative consequences if handled badly?
The findings could be interpreted or even manipulated by external sources such as the media, with negative consequences for the groups involved.
Give an example of a socially sensitive research topic.
Examples include:
- drug addiction in a population of homeless people
- the stereotyping of women aged 18-25
- the experience of refugees who have entered a country seeking asylum
True or False?
Research into 'hot topics' such as race is especially prone to media scrutiny.
True.
Research into criminality, addiction, sexuality, gender and race is particularly prone to scrutiny from both mass media and social media platforms.
Define reflexivity.
Reflexivity involves the researcher examining their own assumptions, beliefs and prejudices about the topic and being critical about how these could influence their choices before, during and after the research.
How can socially sensitive research benefit minority groups?
It gives minority or underrepresented groups the 'spotlight', allowing perspectives, attitudes and experiences other than those of the dominant group to be heard, which widens the social and cultural landscape.
How did Rosenhan's (1973) study show a benefit of socially sensitive research?
Rosenhan highlighted the de-humanising treatment of patients in US mental hospitals, leading to a review of how such institutions were run and their potential for labelling people by their illness.
How did Burt's research perpetuate bias and discrimination?
Burt's research on the heritability of intelligence helped establish the 11+ examination in the UK, which segregated children by IQ; he was later found to have invented much of his data, including a heritability coefficient of .77 from twin studies, and was publicly discredited.
Why must researchers avoid exploiting participants in sensitive research?
Participants may be vulnerable, e.g. Griffiths (1994) asked regular gamblers to play on slot machines, which could reinforce their need to gamble, pushing the boundaries of what is ethical.
True or False?
Socially sensitive research should be avoided because it is difficult to manage.
False.
Socially sensitive research can be difficult to negotiate and manage, but this does not mean it should be avoided, as it can bring hugely beneficial consequences.
What beneficial consequences can socially sensitive research bring?
Benefits include:
- challenging stereotypes, preconceived ideas and prejudice
- policy changes and additional funding for underrepresented groups
- refuting 'scientific justifications' that were based on discrimination
How has socially sensitive research been used to justify discrimination?
In the 1920s and 30s many US states enacted legislation leading to the compulsory sterilisation of people labelled 'unfit to breed', including disabled people, those with mental illness and drug addicts, based on fraudulent research and fake findings.
Murray and Herrnstein's (1994) book ' ' pushed a biased, political agenda under the guise of research into IQ.
Murray and Herrnstein's (1994) book 'The Bell Curve' pushed a biased, political agenda under the guise of research into IQ.

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