Psychological Research Ethics and Formulating Studies: Human and Animal Considerations

What is the role of ethics in psychological research?

Ethics in psychological research ensures the protection of participants' rights and welfare, guiding researchers to conduct studies responsibly and with integrity.

What is the purpose of ethics committee approval?

Ethics committee approval is required to ensure that psychological research adheres to ethical standards and that the rights and welfare of participants are protected.

What are the ethical guidelines related to human participants?

Ethical guidelines for human participants include protection from harm, informed consent, withdrawal rights, deception, confidentiality, privacy, voluntary participation, and debriefing.

What does 'protection from harm' mean?

Protection from harm refers to the ethical obligation to ensure that participants do not experience physical or psychological harm during research.

What is informed consent?

Informed consent is the process of providing potential participants with sufficient information about a study so they can make an informed decision about their participation.

What are withdrawal rights?

Withdrawal rights allow participants to leave a study at any time without penalty or loss of benefits.

What is the significance of confidentiality?

Confidentiality ensures that personal information about participants is kept private and not disclosed without their consent.

What does voluntary participation mean?

Voluntary participation means that individuals choose to take part in research without any coercion or undue influence.

What is debriefing in research?

Debriefing is the process of informing participants about the study's purpose and any deception used after their participation has concluded.

What is the '3Rs' principle in animal research?

The '3Rs' principle in animal research refers to replacement (using alternatives to animals), reduction (minimizing the number of animals used), and refinement (enhancing animal welfare).

What is the aim of research?

The aim of research is the specific goal or purpose that the study seeks to achieve.

What are independent and dependent variables?

The independent variable is the factor manipulated by the researcher, while the dependent variable is the outcome measured to assess the effect of the independent variable.

What are extraneous variables?

Extraneous variables are any variables other than the independent variable that could affect the dependent variable, potentially confounding the results.

What is a hypothesis?

A hypothesis is a testable prediction about the relationship between variables, which can be directional (predicting the direction of the effect) or non-directional (not predicting the direction).

What is an inquiry question?

An inquiry question is a question that guides qualitative research, focusing on exploring and understanding a phenomenon rather than testing a hypothesis.