The Effects of Media Violence - Essay Example

Numerous types of research have confirmed a positive link between television and violence and concluded that television violence increases the harmful effects on children (Apa.org, 2007). Suppose we were to explore a relationship between television violence and children. In that case, interviews and observations should have sounded the most relevant to our psychological assessment, where we could gain comprehensive data through these data collection methods. Other tools may not prove as appropriate.

Nonetheless, there can be a considerable amount of concerns for the safeguarding of ethical standards in both interviews and observations. They are prone to falling prey to violations of the ethical standards that otherwise must be maintained, irrespective of the type and gravity of the research. Interviews are one of the best means of data collection that researchers found very useful, taking their comprehensive nature. Interviews give in-depth details and allow supporting information such as the expressions and body language of the interviewee. Obtaining informed consent from the subjects being interviewed is one of the most important aspects of any psychological research (Users.rider.edu, n.d.). With children, interviews become a sheer violation of ethical standards because, in most common cases, children are not able to give consent for themselves. As a result, if we wish to study the effects of television violence on them, we will be bound to violate this ethical standard. To avoid such circumstances, countries like.

Scotland has made ethical approval mandatory even in the case of those subjects who are unable to give their consent. Their statutory clause supports such;
"From 1 July 2002, all research in Scotland, whether multi-centre or not, involving adults who cannot consent for themselves, requires ethical approval from the MREC for Scotland. E.g. head injury, stroke patients, and dementia sufferers. If your research involves such patient groups, please get in touch with the MREC for Scotland." (Ethical Issues in Interviews).

Observational research, too, is prone to violations of ethical standards. In our case, where we intend to study the effects of television violence on children, it is straightforward to infringe on the subjects' privacy. Observing a child while he/she watches television is in itself a moral violation of privacy if he/she is kept unaware of the fact that he/she is being observed. This nullifies our chances of carrying out an ethically sound psychological assessment.