ethics Flashcards
ethical issues
these arise when a conflict exists between the rights of participants in research studies and the goals of research to produce authentic, valid and worthwhile data
BPS code of ethics
a quasi-legal document produced by the british psychological society which instructs psychologists what behaviour is and is not acceptable when dealing with participants
4 major ethical issues
- protection from harm
- deception
- informed consent
- privacy and confidentiality
informed consent
Making participants aware of aims, procedures, their rights, what the data will be used for
From a researcher’s pov this might make the study meaningless as the behaviour may not be as natural
deception
Deliberately misleading or withholding information
Don’t receive adequate information
Can cause distress
protection from harm
Participants should not be under any additional risk than everyday life
This includes feeling embarrassed, inadequate, stressed
Right to withdra
privacy and confidentiality
Right of privacy
All personal data collected
dealing with informed consent
Supplied with a consent letter that must be signed to continue with experiment
Signatures of parental consent is required for under 16’s
Other ways of gathering consent are presumptive consent, prior general consent, retrospective consent
dealing with deception and protection from harm
Full debrief (including true aims and details)
Right to withdraw and withhold data
Reassure participants that behaviour is typical/normal
If they got stressed or embarrassed they might need counselling provided for them
dealing with confidentiality
Full debrief (including true aims and details)
Right to withdraw and withhold data
Reassure participants that behaviour is typical/normal
If they got stressed or embarrassed they might need counselling provided for them
cost-benefit analysis
Costs and benefits of research proposals
Benefits may include value or groundbreaking nature of the research
Costs may include damaging effect on individual participants or to the reputation of psychology as a whole
prior general consent
participants agree to a long list of potential features of a research study, not knowing which aspects will be part of the study they are in
retroactive consent
The researcher asks for consent after the participant has taken part in the study, if the participant does not agree to take part their data is destroyed
presumptive consent
the researcher asks a group similar to the sample if they would take part in the research, if the group agrees the researcher assumes that the participants would also agree
