Ethical issues and ways of dealing with them

Question 1

Ethical issues

Answer 1

When a conflict exists between the rights of participants and the aims of the research.

Question 2

BPS code of conduct

Answer 2

A quasi-legal document to protect participants based on four principles:
- Respect
- Competence
- Integrity
- Responsibility

Question 3

What do ethics committees do?

Answer 3

They weigh up the costs and benefits before deciding whether a study should go ahead.

Question 4

Informed consent

Answer 4

Get permission.

Question 5

What is the issue with informed consent?

Answer 5

The participants can make an informed judgement about whether to take part but may reveal aims.

Question 6

How do you deal with informed consent?

Answer 6

Sign consent form, where appropriate seek parental consent (children under 16), alternative forms of consent are:
1) Presumptive - ask a similar group.
2) Prior general - agreed to be deceived.
3) Retrospective - get consent after the study.

Question 7

Deception

Answer 7

Misleading.

Question 8

What is the issue with deception?

Answer 8

Deliberately misleading or withholding information so consent is not informed but mild deception is okay.

Question 9

How do you deal with deception?

Answer 9

At the end of the study, participants should be given a debrief where they are advised of:
- The true aims of the investigation.
- Details that were not given during the study.
- What their data will be used for.
- Their right to withhold data.

Question 10

Protection from harm

Answer 10

Risk.

Question 11

What is the issue with protection from harm?

Answer 11

Participants should be at no more mental or physical risk than they would be in everyday life.

Question 12

How do you deal with protection from harm?

Answer 12

1) Should be given the right to withdraw at each stage of the process.
2) Should be reassured that their behaviour is typical/normal during debriefing.
3) Researcher should provide counselling if participants have been.

Question 13

Privacy and confidentiality

Answer 13

Right to control.

Question 14

What is the issue with privacy and confidentiality?

Answer 14

We have the right to control information about ourselves. If this is invaded, confidentiality should be respected.

Question 15

How do you deal with privacy and confidentiality?

Answer 15

1) If personal details are held these must be protected (a legal requirement). Usually no personal details are recorded.
2) Researchers refer to participants using numbers, initials or false names.
3) Participants personal data cannot be shared with other researchers.