Quant: Lecture 9

Question 1

What are the four main ethical principles?

Describe each one

Answer 1

Respect: Value the dignity and worth of your participants and be sensitive to your perceived authority and privacy. It involves confidentiality, informed consent and permission to record.
Competence: Being able to function optimally with recognised limits of knowledge, skill, training, experience and education. It involves being able to identify relevant issues, have practice and seek assistance if needed.
Responsibility: Avoid harm, the abuse of someone’s contribution and misconduct. It also involves taking advice and considering the participant.
Integrity: Honesty, accuracy, clarity and fairness. You shouldn’t abuse professional relationships or engage in harassment.

Question 2

What are the 6 main ethical issues?

Answer 2

Informed consent
Confidentiality
Protection
Withdrawal
Debrief
Deception

Question 3

Describe informed consent

Answer 3

Participants should be informed of all aspects of research that might influence their willingness to participate. Research without consent is only allowed if the participants are beings observed where they would be expected to be observed by strangers (public observation).

Question 4

Describe deception

Answer 4

Intentional deception should be avoided when possible and withholding information isn’t acceptable if it could make the participant uneasy when debriefed. If there is doubt, you need to consult someone.

Question 5

Describe debriefing

Answer 5

After you have collected the data, you should reveal the true purpose of the research but it doesn’t provide justification for unethical research. The participants should feel the same as they did at the start of the study. Researchers should be available after the study.

Question 6

Describe withdrawal

Answer 6

The researcher should make it clear that the participant can retrospectively withdraw and withdraw during the study and their data should be removed from the study. You should not use authority to pressurise the participant.

Question 7

Describe confidentiality

Answer 7

Participants should understand that all of their data will be anonymous and won’t be revealed to others unless agreed in advance. If anonymity can’t be guaranteed then the participants must know before hand.

Question 8

Describe protection

Answer 8

There should be no physical or psychological harm that is greater than that of normal life. If research may result in harm then the experimenter must detect, remove and correct these consequences. Payment shouldn’t be used to bribe people into harm. There should be no manipulation.

Question 9

What are the BPS ethical guidelines for animal research?

Answer 9

Researchers must familiarise themselves with laws for animal research. You shouldn’t use animals unless it is necessary, choose a species scientifically and ethically suitable, use the smallest number of animals possible. If harm is going to be caused above the lower threshold of pain (inserting a hypodermic needle) then the research should be regulated. The housing conditions should be appropriate and the animals should get some stimulation, not involving aggression or predation. There should be anaesthesia or euthanasia etc.