Ethics in psychological research

Question 1

Define ethical issue

Answer 1

when there is a conflict between participants rights and researchers needs to gain valuable findings

Question 2

What is BPS and what do they do?

Answer 2

British Psychological Society - professional body that instructs psychologists in the UK on acceptable behaviour when dealing with participants.

Question 3

BPS - Code of Ethics and Conduct (2009)

Answer 3

Set of guidelines with 4 ethical principles

Question 4

What are the 4 ethical principles?

Answer 4

Responsibility, integrity, respect and competence.

Question 5

Define responsibility (4 ethical principles)

Answer 5

taking care of participants (e.g. avoiding distress or harm) and the researcher is held accountable for their work.

Question 6

Define integrity (4 ethical principles)

Answer 6

professional boundaries maintained, must look for misconduct in others, honesty and accuracy, must be clear about any conflicts of interest.

Question 7

Define respect (4 ethical principles)

Answer 7

treating a person as an individual and in a fair and unprejudiced way.

Question 8

Define competence (4 ethical principles)

Answer 8

research must be carried out within the researches ability

Question 9

PC PRID

Answer 9

Privacy
Confidentiality
Protection from harm
Right to withdraw
Informed consent
Deception

Question 10

Privacy

Answer 10

Participants right to control information about themselves

Question 11

Confidentiality

Answer 11

Protect personal information

Question 12

Protection from harm

Answer 12

participants should not experience negative physical or psychological effects

Question 13

Right to withdraw

Answer 13

Participants are told and are able to withdraw at any time

Question 14

Informed consent

Answer 14

Full information about the nature and purpose of the study

Question 15

Deception

Answer 15

Participant not told a study’s true aim and/or procedures

Question 16

Types of consent

Answer 16

Informed consent
Presumptive consent
Prior general consent
Retrospective consent

Question 17

How is informed consent gathered?

Answer 17

Consent letter issued to participants detailing all relevant information that might affect their decision to participate

Question 18

Presumptive consent

Answer 18

a similar group of people are asked if the study is acceptable

Question 19

Prior general consent

Answer 19

participants give their permission to take part in a number of different studies, including one that will involve deception

Question 20

Retrospective consent

Answer 20

participants have already taken part in the study when they are asked for their consent (during debriefing)

Question 21

Dealing with confidentiality

Answer 21

maintain anonymity by using pseudo names, numbers or initials when writing up the investigation.

Question 22

Dealing with deception and protection from harm

Answer 22

participants given full debrief where they are made aware of true aims and any details they were not supplied with during the study.

they must be told what their data will be used for and given the right to withhold their data.

Question 23

what is risk management?

Answer 23

identification of potential physical or psychological harm

where the long-term gains are weighed up against the short-term risks and ethics committee will decide if the risks are justified