Ethical considerations Flashcards
Define Ethical Considerations
Ethical considerations are guidelines and principles that ensure the safety, dignity, and well-being of participants in psychological research. They help protect individuals from harm and ensure the research is conducted responsibly.
Define Informed Consent
Informed consent means participants must be fully informed about the nature, purpose, and procedures of the study before agreeing to take part. They should understand their rights, including the right to withdraw, and give consent voluntarily.
Define Annonymity
Anonymity ensures that participants’ identities are not revealed and that their data cannot be linked back to them. This protects their privacy and encourages honest responses.
Define Right to Withdraw
The right to withdraw means participants can leave the study at any time without penalty and can request their data be removed. This protects participants from feeling pressured to continue if they feel uncomfortable.
Define Deception
Deception involves withholding the true aim of the study or deliberately misleading participants. While deception is sometimes necessary to prevent demand characteristics, it raises ethical concerns because it violates the principle of informed consent. Participants may feel betrayed or embarrassed when they learn they were misled, even if the deception seems minor. To uphold ethical standards, researchers must ensure that any deception is justified by the study’s scientific value, causes no significant harm, and is fully explained during debriefing. Participants should leave the study without lasting negative effects and with a clear understanding of the real purpose of their participation.
Define undue stress or harm
Researchers must avoid causing physical or psychological harm to participants. The level of stress experienced during the study should not exceed what they would encounter in everyday life.
Define Debriefing
Debriefing occurs after the study and involves fully explaining the true purpose of the research, revealing any deception used, and ensuring that participants leave without distress or confusion.
