Ethical Issues Flashcards
(19 cards)
What is an ethical issue?
Conflict between two points of view.
Conflict between what the researcher needs to do in order to conduct useful and meaningful research and the rights of the participants.
How have psychologists tried to deal with ethical issues?
Development of ethical guidelines. In Britain psychologists are monitored by The Ethical Principles for Conducting Research with Human Participants’ published by British Psychological Soiciety
What do guidelines encourage to do?
Think about the possible implications of the research on samples involved and the target populations to whom the results can be applied to.
Examples of guidelines
- Obtaining Valid Consent
- Avoiding Deception
- Ensuring Protection from Harm
- Maintaining Privacy
- Guaranteeing Confidentiality
Psychological Research Ethics Committee (PREC)
Enforce guidelines in research fields e.g universities
Proposals to conduct research are submitted and the PREC can make 1 out of 3 decisions
1. approve research as proposed
2. Approve research subject to specific changes
3. Reject proposal
Lack of Valid Consent: Why is it an ethical issue?
Means the study and its aims have not been fully or clearly explained to the participant and/ or the participant has been unable to give consent.
Lack of Valid consent: How to deal with the ethical issue?
- Partial consent: Consent gained with the knowledge that some information is being withheld
- Presumptive Consent: Consent is gained from likeminded participants
- Retrospective Consent: Gained after the study has been completed normally during the debriefing
Deception: Why is it an ethical issue?
This is an issue because it means valid consent cannot be obtained. Can be active (when participants are misled) or passive (when information is withheld)
Deception: How can we deal with the ethical issue?
- Debriefing: True aims are revealed at the end of the study
- Passive deception rather than active deception.
Lack of Protection from Harm: Why is it an ethical issue
This is an issue because it can lead to either physical harm e.g seizures, high blood pressure or psychological harm such as stress or embarrassment.
Lack of Protection From Harm: how do we deal with the ethical issue?
- Informed Consent
- Right to withdraw is made clear
- Debriefing at the end of study and making sure true aim is revealed and check if participants are okay.
Lack of Privacy: Why is it an ethical issue?
This is an issue because it means that the participant’s rights have not been respected e.g the right to think, feel and act without judgement.
Lack of Privacy: How do we deal with the ethical issue?
Making participants’ right to withdraw clear and keeping personal information confidential e.g names
Lack of confidentiality: Why is it an ethical issue?
This is an issue because it means that participant’s personal information has been disclosed without permission or they can be identifiable from their results.
Lack of confidentiality: How do we deal with the ethical issue?
- Anonymity which involves numbering participants rather than using names.
Vulnerable Individuals: Why is it an ethical issue?
Those who are at a disadvantage because of an inherent quality e.g age, disability or status e.g homeless or illegal worker.
Vulnerable individuals: How do we deal with the ethical issue?
- Get parental consent for participants under 16
- Presumptive consent get consent from like-minded participants
Working with Animals: Why is it an ethical issue?
Psychologists can cause harm to animals either through the use of them in research or as a therapeutic device.
Working with Animals: How do we deal with the ethical issue?
Animals should be cared for properly and procedures should avoid mental and physical harm when possible and follow guidelines.
