Ethical Issues Flashcards
What does ethical issues refer to?
Conflicts about what is acceptable in research.
What role do researchers have a responsibility for in relation to ethical issues?
Researchers have a responsibility to protect the rights and best interests of the participants they study.
What are the 5 potential ethical issues?
-Deception
-Lack of Informed Consent
-Lack of Protection from Harm
-Lack of Right to Withdraw
-Lack of Confidentiality
When does deception occur?
When participants are deliberately misled about the true nature of the study
Why is deception an issue?
As informed consent cannot be gained due to pps not knowing what they are truly consenting to.
What does lack of informed consent involve?
Revealing the true aims and purpose of the research to participants before giving them the choice of agreeing or refusing to participate in the research
What are the situations where giving informed consent isn’t possible?
-deception is being used
-pps are unaware that they are part of the research
-pps may be unable to fully understand the nature of the study and make a balanced choice
What does the lack of protection from harm?
To a researchers responsibility to ensure participants come to no more harm (psychological and physical) than they would in everyday life
What should the researchers aim to ensure about the pps?
That they leave the experiment in the same state as they arrived
What must pps be made aware of before, during and after an investigation?
That they have the right to withdraw and leave the study at any time they choose
What is a retrospective withdrawal?
After the investigation where they choose to have all their data removed
What is the role of the BPS Coded of Ethics?
Are the rules or guidelines that all researchers in Britain must follow when designing and conducting psychological studies
What could happen if this code is not complied with?
Could restrict future research and result in the removal of the name of the ‘offending’ psychologist from the professional register of chartered psychologists
How can we deal with informed consent?
-pps should be issued with a consent letter detailing all relevant information which might affect their decision to participate
-under 16: a signature from a parent is required
How can we deal with deception and protection from harm?
-Given a full debrief at end of study: made aware of true aims and any details not supplied with during the study
-Told they have the right to withdraw and right to withhold data
-researcher should provide counselling if it’s required
