Socially sensitive research

Socially sensitive research

1. Socially sensitive research: Research that may have implications on the individuals in the research, or for groups in society, such as the participant's families or particular cultural groups.

2. Implications

   • Certain groups may be stigmatised or discriminated against due to the results.
     • Example - IQ tests administered to black Americans show that they typically score 15 points below the average white score. Although this poses no harm to the individuals if these results were published it could reinforce racial stereotypes and be used to discriminate the black population in the job market etc.
   • People could be treated differently than before the study was published.
     • Example - Raine carried out brain scans on violent criminals and found they tended to have subtle damage to the areas of their brain associated with impulse control. He suggested that this could be used as a marker for violent criminality and young children should be screened and 'something done about it' to save misery and money. Even though this research wouldn't have affected the participants directly it would create wider implications of children with this marker being treated differently (ie. put into institutions, aborted)
   • Anxiety and social stigma created if you had a particular gene that was 'abnormal'
     • Compulsory genetic testing can be used to identify those with particular genes that are linked with abnormality such as schizophrenia. Although this could help the participant be aware and prepared if it develops it creates a large amount of anxiety and social stigma knowing you have it.

3. Seiber and Stanley suggested ways in dealing with socially sensitive by identifying the 4 ways that research may create social implications.

   • 1. The way the question is worded - this can create a feeling that a viewpoint has a scientific credibility ie. is there a racial difference in IQ?
   • 2. Treatment of the participant - The main aspect being the confidentiality of themselves and their friends/families
   • 3. The context the research is carried out in - ie. If sponsored by a drug company they may mislead the public when they publish findings by analysing them in a different way than intended.
   • 4. Interpretation of findings and application of them - Misuse of findings to a different situation ie. the use of IQ testing to identify feeble-mindedness and then to impose sterilisation. Or research may be used to negatively impact particular sub-cultures or groups with certain religious beliefs or ethnic minorities in order to discriminate.

4. Cost - benefit analysis - If the costs outweigh the benefits of the research then it is unethical. It is difficult to assess the costs and benefits before the study however and the participants themselves rarely benefit from the research (more the conclusions instead).

   • Some psychologists believe that some research should be done even if there is potential for harm.
   • Example - Milgrim's obedience test caused distress to the participants (as they believed they were harming another person). However, the benefits of the knowledge concluded is considered to outweigh the disadvantages (participants distress). It is believed that some studies require deception to make sure people's natural behaviour in that situation doesn't change.
     • If it were to be carried out again however the benefits would be less (as the main understanding is already there) therefore the costs would outweigh the benefits so it wouldn't be ethical to repeat.

5. Arguments for SSR

   • SSR has been a benefit of society - ie. SSR has made us aware that EWT can be flawed and should not be used without corroboration.
   • Most research still carried out today is on white middle class Americans. SSR is helping to redress the balance and make us more aware of other cultures and outlooks.
   • It has helped to gain a greater acceptance and reduce prejudice as we now have a better understanding of issues such as gender, race and sexuality. ie. Humphreys posed as a gay man to find out the backgrounds of other gay men. He concluded that the stereotypes were untrue and their public sexual practices were not harmful to anyone.. This created a positive outlook on the gay communitee.

6. Arguments against SSR

   • Flawed research has been used to dictate social policy and put certain groups at disadvantages. Cyril Burt created evidence that intelligence was due to genetics and created an 11+ test to determine whether children went to secondary school or grammar school. It was later found he had made most of the research up so his data was flawed but it still lead to children who weren't as clever to be ignored.
   • Research has been used to discriminate against groups in society ie. sterilisation of people in the USA who were of low intelligence, criminal or suffered psychological illness.