Ethical issues Flashcards
(16 cards)
What is the BPS code of ethics?
A quasi-legal document produced by the BPS that instructs psychologists in the UK about what behaviour us and isn’t acceptable when dealing with patients. It’s built around 4 major principles: competence,integrity,responsibility and respect.
What is the role of the BPS ethical committee?
BPS has its own code of ethics and set of ethical guidelines. The guidelines are closely matched to the ethical issues and attempt to ensure that all participants are treated with respect and consideration during each phase of the research. Guidelines are implemented by ethics committees in research institutions who use a cost-benefit approach to determine whether particular research proposals are ethically possible. It’s the responsibility of ethics committees to weigh up the costs and benefits of research proposals to determine whether the study should go ahead.
What is an ethical issue?
Arises when a conflict exists between the rights of participants in research studies and the goals of research to produce authentic, valid and worthwhile data.
What is an ethical consideration?
it’s how to conduct worthwhile and innovative research whilst at the same time respecting the dignity and well being of all participants.
What is the cost benefit analysis approach? (aka obligation’s dilemma)
It’s the responsibility of ethics committees to weigh up the costs and benefits of research proposals to decide whether the research study should go ahead. Benefits might include the value or ground breaking nature of the research. Possible costs may be the damaging effect on individual participants or to the reputation of psychology as a whole.
What are the alternative ways of getting consent?
PRESUMPTIVE CONSENT-rather than getting consent from the participants themselves, a similar group of people are asked if the study if acceptable. If a group agree, then consent of the original participants is ‘presumed’.
PRIOR GENERAL CONSENT-participants give their permission to take part in a number of different studies-one that will involve deception. Participants are effectively consenting to be deceived.
RETROSPECTIVE CONSENT-participants are asked for their consent (during debriefing) having already taken part in the study. They may have not been aware of their participation or they may have been subject to deception.
What needs to be in a consent form?
- statement that participation is voluntary and that refusal to participate won’t result in any consequences or any loss of benefits that the person is otherwise entitled to receive.
- Purpose of research (the purpose of this investigation is…)
- procedures involved in research.
- all foreseeable risks and discomforts to the participants (if there are any). They may include not only physical injury but also psychological.
- benefits of the research to society and possibility to the individual human subject.
- length of time the subject is expected to participate.
- person to contact for any Qs or ICE.
- subject’s right to confidentiality and right to withdraw from the study at any time without consequences.
How to write a debrief…
- Participant must be given a general idea of what the researcher was investigating and why, and their part in the research should be explained.
- Their right to confidentiality and their right to be able to withdraw their data.
- Therapeutic counselling should be offered.
- They must be told if they have been deceived and why.
- Asked if they have any Qs and these should be answered as fully and as honestly as possible.
What is informed consent?
can
Not sufficient enough just to say yes-participant must know what they’re agreeing to. Before the study begins the researcher must outline to them what the research is about and then ask for their consent. However it’s not always possible to gain IC–>acceptable as long as what happens to participant is something that could happen to them in real life. In order that consent is “informed” your consent forms must be accompanied by an info sheet setting out the info along the proposed study along with details about the investigators and their contact details. U16s must get their parent’s permission.
What is deception?
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Where participants are misled or wrongly informed about the aims of the research. Types of deception include A) deliberate misleading (using confederates, deceptive instructions,etc) B) deception by omission (failure to disclose full info or creating ambiguity). The researcher should avoid deceiving them about the nature of the research unless there’s no alternative. They must be deceived as little as possible, and any deception must not cause stress. If the participant is likely to object or to be distressed once they discover the true nature of the study at debriefing, then the research is unacceptable.
Ways to get away with deception…
- debrief at end
- right to withdraw data
- counselling
What is confidentiality and privacy?
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Participants and the data gained from research must be kept anonymous unless they give their full consent. No names must be included in a research report and this extends to geographical location. This includes anonymity of personal info.
What do we do if we find out something that should be disclosed (e.g.criminal act)?
Researchers have no legal obligation to disclose criminal acts and have determine which is the most important consideration:their duty to the participant VS their duty to the wider community. Ultimately decisions to disclose info will have to be set in the context of the aims of the research.
What is debriefing/briefing?
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After the research is over the participant should be able to discuss the findings with the psychologist. They must be given a general idea of what the researcher was investigating and why, and their part in the research must be explained. They must be told if they have been deceived and be given reasons why. They must be asked if they have any Qs and these Qs must be answered as fully and as honestly as possible. Debriefing should take place as soon as possible and be as full as possible;experimenters should take reasonable steps to ensure they understand debriefing.
What is the right to withdraw?
with
Participants should be able to leave a study at any time if they feel uncomfortable. They should also be allowed to withdraw their data (should be told told at briefing). They shouldn’t have pressure placed on them to continue if they don’t want to. They may feel they shouldn’t withdraw as they may spoil the study. Many study participants are paid and they may be worried that they won’t get this if they withdraw. Even at the end of the study they’ve the right to withdraw the data they provided for the research.
What is protection from harm?
participants
Researchers must ensure that those taking part in research will not be caused distress. They must be protected from physical and mental harm. This must mean that you must not embarrass, frighten, offend or harm participants. Normally the risk of harm should be no greater than in ordinary life. The researcher must also ensure that if vulnerable groups are used (e.g. elderly and children), they must receive special care. Researchers aren’t always accurately able to predict the risks of taking part on a study and n some cases a therapeutic debriefing may be necessary if participants have been disturbed during research.
