Question help..

I've been set this question for homework:

Using an example from a psychological study, explain one ethical consideration of research related to the biological perspective

We've been told to use the split-brain work that Sperry did but i'm stuck on any ethical issues surrounding the experiments. My mind's gone totally blank :s

I'm not asking for others to do my homework for me, just to give me some ideas.

Thanks

Reply 1

ice mario

I can't think of any ethical issues relating to Sperry either except a possible issue of whether the patients were able to give informed consent (due to the effects of the epilepsy, possible brain damage resulting from it and the effects of the split brain surgery). On the positive side, the participants in Sperry's study had already had the procedure done before he recruited them for his study, so from that point of view it could be argued that he actually avoided psychological and or physical harm and or other issues such as deception (no need to lie as the procedure is non-invasive). A general issue related to the physiological (biological) apprach in general is that the research is invasive so could have caused physical and or psychological harm to the participants of their studies (which is why split brain procedures are only carried out for people with severe epilepsy).

Hope this answer helps!

PS. I have a degree in psychology and am a Psychology teacher and examiner, so you can trust me! :-)