Limitations of Ethical Guidelines
Psychology: AQA A Level, topic 7.2.7
Limitations of Ethical Guidelines
In the UK, the British Psychology Society governs ethical guidelines in psychology. Ethical guidelines are there to help researchers make moral judgements about whether or not their research can be justified.
Universities & unethical studies
- All university research has to gain approval from an ethical committee before it can commence to protect both participants and researchers.
- It is often said that the research studies of Milgram (1963) and Zimbardo (1973) were unethical, but they took place before modern ethical guidelines were in place and indeed helped shape them.
Complexity of ethical judgements
- Ethical judgements are never black and white. Researchers must carefully consider whether ‘the ends justifies the means’.
- Some people would argue that ethical guidelines stifle scientific progress. For example, medical ethical guidelines mean that the research into a vaccine for COVID-19 cannot progress as fast as we might like, as stringent tests must be met before human trials can begin. The bottom line is that if there is a conflict of interest between scientific progress and the rights and protection of the participants, the participants’ rights must always come first.
Socially sensitive research
- Even if ethical guidelines are stringently followed, there is still the possibility that the research may be unethical as it could be socially sensitive.
- Socially sensitive research is defined by Sieber and Stanley (1988) as research where there are potential social consequences for the participants, or the groups of people represented by the research.
Test yourself on Limitations of Ethical Guidelines
Which famous studies do people often consider unethical?
What should always be prioritised if there is a conflict on interest in research?