Ethics Flashcards
(13 cards)
What are the 5 key ethical issues the BPS has to make researchers consider with human participants ?
Confidentiality
Right to withdraw
Informed consent
Protection from harm
Deception
What is confidentiality ?
It is a legal right. Personal information must be protected. Participants should not be individually identifiable in any part of the research.
How to resolve the issue of confidentiality ?
Researchers attempt to maintain confidentiality by using numbers/letters to represent participants rather than using their names
What is the right to withdraw ?
At the beginning of the research process participants must be told they can withdraw from the experiment at any given time. If the participants chose to leave the experiment they must destroy all their existing information
How can researchers resolve the issue of right to withdraw ?
By allowing the participants to withdraw from the investigation and destroying all their data.
What is informed consent ?
Participants should be fully informed of the investigation and all other aspects of the research that might influence the individuals willingness to take part. Anyone under the age of 16 or mentally impaired must have a consent form from a legal guardian or parent
How can researchers resolve the issue issue of informed consent ?
Prior general consent involves informing the participants of the basic details about the investigation and that deception occurs occurs in a large number of psychological experiments. Presumptive consent involves a similar group of people to the actual participants all of the details of the experiment and then being asked if they would still participate knowing all this information. If they say yes it is presumed that the actual participants would say yes. Retrospective consent involves asking participants for consent for their consent during the debrief having already taking part in the study
What is protection from harm ?
Participants must be protected from physical and psychological harm. Participants should be in the same or better physical and mental state that they arrived in.
How can researchers resolve the issue of protection from harm?
Debriefing and offering counselling. If physical harm does occur for the participant the investigation should be ended.
What is deception ?
Participants must not be intentionally lied to. Deception can only take place if the benefits out weigh the cons.
How can researchers resolve the issue of deception ?
Debriefing involves informing the participants about all of the details of the study. At the end of this then asking them if they still want to participate.
