Unit 4 PSYB4 - Approaches, Debates and Methods in Psychology
Institution
AQA
This document includes questions and answers to different possible exam questions in the A Level Psychology exam for the Issues and Debates section of paper three. The questions and answers provided include: ethical implications, culture bias, free will/determinism, gender bias, reductionism/holis...
Unit 4 PSYB4 - Approaches, Debates and Methods in Psychology
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Ethical implications:
Ethical implications of research studies and theory:
Ethical implications consider the consequences of psychological research on the rights of
other people in a wider context, not just the participants involved in a study. Ethical
guidelines were invented to help protect those involved in research, however, cannot guard
against the social impact of psychological research once it has been conducted. There is
concern over the ethical implications of research because researchers have little say of how
their research findings are represented in the media, the impact of their work on public policy
and how it may influence our perception of a particular group.
Ethical Implications of Research Studies: If you consider Milgram’s (1963) research, you
need to consider whether the ‘ends justify the means’. The participants were deceived and
were unable to give fully informed consent. The experiment also caused significant distress,
and the participants were told or coerced to continue against their will. On the other hand,
the participants were debriefed after the experiment and a follow-up interview took place a
year later. The outcome of these follow-up interviews suggested that the participants had
suffered no long-term effects.
Ethical Implications of Theories: Bowlby’s Theory of Attachment suggests that children
form one special attachment bond, usually with their mother, which must take place within a
critical period. Bowlby also suggested that this attachment bond affects their future
relationships through an internal working model. While Bowlby’s theory has contributed to
the development of childcare practices, it has also encouraged the view that a woman's
place is at home with her children, which could make some mothers feel guilty for wanting to
return to work, following childbirth.
Socially sensitive research are studies in which there are potential
consequences/implications. The media views this type of research as attractive so it is likely
the media manipulate findings to attract their audience.
It could be argued that Milgram’s research is socially sensitive because the results could be
used to ensure that people obey orders, even if they don’t want to. Likewise, it could be
argued that Bowlby’s theory is socially sensitive because it could be used to coerce mothers
to stay at home with their children and make them feel guilty for wanting to go back to work
after childbirth, and therefore reinforces traditional roles.
Sieber and Stanley suggest there are 4 things researchers must consider before publishing
research findings:
1) The research question - may be damaging to members of a particular group
2) The methodology used - researcher must consider the treatment of the participants
and their right to confidentiality and anonymity
3) The institutional context - researcher must be mindful of how data is going to be used
and consider who is funding the research. If the research is funded by a private
institution, why are they funding the research and how do they intend to use it?
4) Interpretation and application of findings - researcher must consider how their
findings might be interpreted and applied in the real-world
Cyril Bryant used studies of identical twins to support his idea that intelligence is largely
genetic. His views greatly influenced the Hadow Report which led to the creation of the 11+
, exam. However, it later transpired that his data was falsified. The ethical implications of this
research is that it was used to justify existing prejudices and influences the public policy of
separating people in education according to their IQ. This case illustrates the importance of
peer review in psychology because it shows the negative implication of fraudulent research.
Socially sensitive research can be very harmful to society. For example, in America in the
1920s and 30s, a large number of US states reinforced a legislation that led to the
compulsory sterilisation of many citizens on the grounds that they are “feeble-minded” and a
drain on society. This included people deemed as to be of low intelligence, drug or alcohol
addicts and the mentally ill. The idea, supported by many sections of the scientific and
psychological community at the time, was that feeble-minded people were “unfit” to breed.
This is an example of the government harming citizens and creating a hire=rarchy of people
worthy of society and those that aren’t which creates a further division between different
groups of people. Therefore we may have to be cautious about research like this that brand
certain groups in a negative light because it can justify harmful behaviour.
However, it is argued that socially sensitive research is necessary to carry out as Sandra
Scarr argues that studies of underrepresented groups and issues may promote a greater
sensitivity and understanding of these. There are many benefits of carrying out socially
sensitive research which include: reducing prejudice and stereotypes and it helps society
move forward and evolve from these stereotypes.
In the 1950s, research into the persuasive effects of subliminal messages was used by
marketing companies to advertise their products. One study claimed that the sales of Coca-
cola and popcorn increased significantly when images were flashed on the cinema screens
too quickly for audiences to be aware of. It was later revealed that the author of the study,
Vance Packard had made the findings up. Therefore socially sensitive research isn’t always
necessarily beneficial to society as a whole but to companies who use the findings to
manipulate people in order to gain profit. Therefore socially sensitive research isn’t useful
because we don’t know who is going to use this information and for what.
Although ethical implications are likely to come out of research, ethical issues all research
needs to be reviewed by an ethics committee, especially if there is a chance that it may have
ethical implications or may be socially sensitive. The committee must weigh up the potential
costs against the possible benefits of the research. However, present guidelines don’t ask
researchers to consider how their research might be used by others. For example, Burt with
his research on IQ, he didn’t intend to hurt anybody, but he potentially affected generations
of children that went to school.
Culture bias:
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