Ethics and the BPS guidlines Flashcards
What ethics according to the British Psychological Society guidlines are needed in psychological studies? (11 cards)
What is the BPS?
The British Psychological Society.
Responsible for ethical practice in the science, education + practical applications.
. All psychologists are bound by these guidlines that they have for ethics.
What is an ethical issue?
A conflict between what the researcher needs to conduct useful and meaningful research and the rights of the participant.
Why are there ethical issues in psychology?
Study of behaviour with living creatures can be infringed.
Outcomes of psychological research sometimes reveals socially sensitive aspects of human nature.
Why are ethics important??
It is a moral obligation to society
Creates discipline and proffession
Duty to serve rights of individuals and society
How can we remember the 5 main ethical guidlines to follow?
use DRIPP!
Deception
Right to withdraw
Informed consent
Protection from harm
Privacy and confidentiality
What is the ethical guildine deeption?
Sometimes it is nessecary to decieve paticipants (NOT TELL THEM TRUE AIM) to not alter their demand characterstics/behaviour
However decption is unethical as participants may not fully be able to give informed consents + participants will see psychologists as untrustowrthy.
To avoid this issue, at the end of research the experimenter should DEBRIEF the participants of the true nature of their research to relieve their stress.
Also give them the opportunity to withdraw their data from experiment.
What is the right to withdraw ethical guidline?
If participants feel uncofmrtable/stressed they should be able to withdraw.
They shluld be informed at the start that if they feel uncomfy they can leave at any time, and they should also be reminded throughout and the end that they can withrdraw themselevs and their data.
What is informed consent as an ethical guidline?
When the researcher informs the participants of the true aims of the study/what it entails, so they can make a decision about if they want to participate.
However voluntary informed consent is hard to give when:
. children are involved (parental consent needed if below 16)
. deception is nessecary for the experiement
. observations where paritcipants do not know they are taking part.
instead can get presumptive consent (ask participants similar to sample pop if they would take part)
prior general consent: participant give consent while being decieved.
What is protection from harm in terms of ethical guidlines?
When participants leave the experiment in the same physical/pshycological state that ehey entered.
But hard to do as it is difficult to predict outcome in many experiments (considered acceptable if its not more than what they experience in everday life)
If they showcase signs of stress (shaking leg/biting lip) or if there might be negative psychological impact (guilt/low self esteem), then should NOT do study.
What is privacy and confidentiality as an ethical guidline?
Participants should not. be observed in places where their personal space and privacy is invaded. (FOR EXAMPLE should not be studies in changing rooms or the toilet, but yes in public places)
Ppts have the right to control information about themsleves.
Also not revealing full names (use initials like KC, HM).
This is to mantain anonymity.
What is the cost-benefit anaylsis when ethical problems arise?
The cost: the negative consquences of the research (for participants)
The benfits: the positive consquences that the research gives us (society)
