Ethical Issues

Question 1

Deception

Answer 1

When participants are mislead about the true nature of the study.

Question 2

Why is deception an issue?

Answer 2

• Informed consent can’t be gained

- Participants may become distrustful of psychology studies in the future

Question 3

How could you deal with the issues of deception?

Answer 3

‘De-brief’ the participants
Tell them the true nature of the research to ensure minimal confusion
Re iterate that they can withdraw from the study

Question 4

What are the 5 ethical issues?

Answer 4

• Deception
• Lack of Informed consent
• Lack of Protection from harm
• Lack of right to withdraw
• Lack of confidentiality

Question 5

What are the limitations of dealing with deception?

Answer 5

• The harm may have already occurred

- Participant may have already experienced embarrassment/ low self esteem

Question 6

Informed consent

Answer 6

Involves revealing the true aims and purpose of the research to participants before giving them the choice of agreeing or refusing to take part in the research.

Question 7

When is giving informed consent not possible?

Answer 7

• deception is being used

- participants that are unaware that they are taking part in research (field experiments or covert experiments)

Question 8

What should be used if informed consent is not possible?

Answer 8

Presumptive consent

Question 9

What are the limitations of dealing with informed consent?

Answer 9

There may be different expectations about what you will or won’t mind when you are actually experiencing it.

Question 10

How could you deal with the issues of informed consent?

Answer 10

‘Presumptive consent’ tell people from the same target population as your real participants what the study involves and ask them if they would’ve ben happy to take part even if

Question 11

Protection from harm

Answer 11

It is the researchers responsibility to ensure that participants come to no more harm than they would in everyday life. It refers to both psychological and physical harm.

Question 12

How could you deal with the issue of lack of protection from harm?

Answer 12

‘Ethical committee’ group of experts in the area who can decide whether or not the harm in your study is too great. If it goes ahead and harm is present, the participant has the right to withdraw or the researcher can abandon the study.

Question 13

What are the limitations of dealing with lack of protection from harm?

Answer 13

The harm may not be obvious at the time of the study. It may only come to light later.

Question 14

Lack of right to withdraw

Answer 14

Participants must be made aware before, during and after the study that they have the right to withdraw. Participants can choose to withdraw at anytime and they may wish to have their data removed afterwards as part of retrospective withdrawal.

Question 15

How could you deal with the issue of lack of right to withdraw?

Answer 15

Remind participants before, during and after a study that they have the right to withdraw and withdraw their data.

Question 16

Limitations of dealing with lack of right to withdraw

Answer 16

Participant may feel that they can’t withdraw for fear of spoiling the study and not receiving payments/rewards.

Question 17

Lack of confidentiality

Answer 17

Right to remain anonymous. Personal details should not be given away.

Question 18

How could you deal with the issue of lack of confidentiality?

Answer 18

Use pseudonyms e.g. participant A when referring to them in a report.

Question 19

Limitations of dealing with confidentiality

Answer 19

It may not always be possible because sometimes we can use the info provided to work out the details of participants.