Ethical considerations?

Question 1

What are ethical considerations?

Answer 1

Considerations we take in order for p’s to not to harmed by a study
So we balance out the desire to find interesting data and the rights p’s have to be treated ethically

Question 2

What is the British Psychological Society?

Answer 2

is a scheme that monitors the professional practice of a psychologist to see if the studys ethically sound.

Question 3

Why do the BPS need to give psychologists a code for ethics?

Answer 3

To maintain professional standards
To protect participants

Question 4

What is meant by an ethical issue?

Answer 4

A problem in the research where there’s a conflict between the rights of p’s and the aims of the research

Question 5

What is meant by an ethical guideline?

Answer 5

A solution to problems, set of rules by the BPS which state how research should ethically be carried out

Question 6

Acronym to remember ethical considerations
PCDRIP

Answer 6

P- privacy
C-Confidentiality
D- deception
R- right to withdrawal
I- informed consent
P- protection from harm

Question 7

What is privacy and what are the guidelines from the BPS?

Answer 7

Privacy is the person’s right to control the flow of info said about them
Guidelines say- if research is done in public via questionnaires/ interviews, no personal questions should be asked.
And to get retrospective consent after

Question 8

What are the limitations of privacy?

Answer 8

no universal agreement on what constitutes as a public place

Question 9

What is confidentiality and what is the BPS guideline for it?

Answer 9

The communication of personal info from one person to another, trust infos protected
-Guidelines: Anomalise all p’s by using code names and numbers, we shouldn’t be able to identify p’s

Question 10

Limitations of confidentiality?

Answer 10

still possible to figure out p’s from information provided

Question 11

What is deception and what are the BPS guidelines?

Answer 11

Deception is when the p’s aren’t aware of the true aims of study so therefore can’t give informed consent
-Guideline: P’s must be fully debriefed at the end, should be given opportunity to withdrawal and a discussion

Question 12

What’s a limitation of deception?

Answer 12

Can’t always predict harm
-A debrief isn’t enough
-P’s may need follow up due to embarrassment/low self esteem

Question 13

What is the right to withdrawal and what are the BPS guidelines?

Answer 13

P’s understand they can leave study whenever and can remove data whenever
-Guideline: P’s should be made aware of this at start if study
They may be paid even if they withdrawal

Question 14

What is a weakness of the right to withdrawal?

Answer 14

P’s may feel that they cant withdrawal as it might ruin the study even if they are told otherwise
The incentive (the money) may persuade them to stay even if their not comfortable

Question 15

What is informed consent and what are the guidelines?

Answer 15

IC is that p’s are given comprehensive information regarding experiment so they can make informed decision on weather to participate
-Guideline: p’s must be asked to formally indicate agreement on their part
Should state detail the nature and purpose
As well as a retrospective consent form in debrief

Question 16

Limitations of informed consent?

Answer 16

you give consent but your not sure what its for
but of they know what the full aims are it will ruin study

Question 17

What does protection from harm mean and what are the BPS guidelines?

Answer 17

Participants should not experience any negative physical or psychological harm beyond what we normally experience in day to day life
Guidelines- Studies designed so p’s come to no more harm than they experience daily if harm occurs experiment should be stopped

Question 18

Limitations of protection from harm?

Answer 18

can be difficult to predict the o’s harmed
Researchers may not know pre existing psychological conditions

Question 19

What are some other ethical conditions?

Answer 19

Risk to p’s values, beliefs, relationships, status of privacy
-Working with vulnerable individuals e.g. children
-Working with animals

Question 20

Why is a risk to p’s values, beliefs, relationships, status or privacy and ethical consideration?

Answer 20

Because observer needs to look at a broader impact their study may have on p’s
Need to ensure p’s attitudes and opinions aren’t demeaned
-P’s association with other people aren’t damaged by doing research
-Position in society shouldn’t be jeopardised by participating

Question 21

Why is working with vulnerable individuals an ethical concern?

Answer 21

Vulnerable individuals- children under 16, people with learning or communication difficulties, patients in care, people in custody or probation and people engaged in illegal activity
Valid consent needs to be obtained by the individual who is legally responsible for them
Observers may try get consent from the vulnerable p’s but isn’t acceptable as they may not fully understand reason for research

Question 22

Why is working with animals considered an ethical consideration?

Answer 22

Because they can’t consent
BPS asks psychologists to find alternatives to research, if this is unavoidable theirs are strict recommendations about factors of species type, care requirements etc that need to be met

Question 23

What occurs if guidelines aren’t followed?

Answer 23

The guidelines aren’t legally enforced, so if someone conducts unethical research they won’t be sent to prison
However the BPS may ban people who are practices psychology and the research wont be publish

Question 24

What are the key features of a brief?

Answer 24

-Inform the p’s for the purpose of research
-ensures the p’s are clear on what they have to do
-ensure the confidentiality
-give the p’s a right to withdrawal their fata and to see if the finished report if they wish
-provides an opportunity for questions

Question 25

What are the key features of a debrief?

Answer 25

-inform the p’s on the purpose of this research
-ensure no distress to the p’s
-ensure when the p’s leave in a frame of mind that is at least as sound as when they entered
-give the p’s the right to withdrawal their data and to see finished report if wish
-provides an opportunity for questions
-thank p’s for contributing