Ethical and Social Responsibilities in Psychological Research

Flashcards covering research ethics, Belmont Principles, researcher responsibilities, and socially sensitive research.

Socially Sensitive Research

Studies in which there are potential consequences or implications, either directly for the participants in the research or for the class of individual represented by the research.

Reflexivity

A researcher responsibility that involves examining personal biases and preconceptions.

Transparency

The practice of clearly communicating study limitations and uncertainties.

Cultural Competence

Interacting with different cultures to reduce stereotypes and assumptions without imposing dominant culture values.

Community Engagement

Involving community members directly in the research process.

Fair Representation

Ensuring that research findings reflect a balanced understanding of the group or topic studied.

Avoiding Harm

A core ethical principle focused on minimizing physical or psychological harm to research participants.

Confidentiality

An ethical requirement to keep participant data private and use it only for stated purposes when researchers know participant identities.

Informed Consent

Providing comprehensive information about a study's nature, purpose, procedures, risks, and benefits prior to participation.

Right to Withdraw

An ethical standard allowing participants to leave a study at any point without facing negative consequences.

Debriefing

Providing participants with full information about the study after their participation, including any deception used and the study's true purpose.

Anonymity

A protection where researchers do not collect any identifying information at all, providing a stronger protection than confidentiality.

Belmont Principles

A broad philosophical framework created in 1979 consisting of three overarching moral principles that provide the why behind ethical research across all human participant studies.

Respect for Persons

One of the three overarching moral principles established by the 1979 Belmont Principles framework.

Beneficence

One of the three core moral principles included in the Belmont Principles to guide ethical thinking.

Justice

One of the three overarching moral principles defining the broad philosophical framework of the Belmont Principles.

Legal Responsibilities

A core component of responsibility involving following laws and regulations governing psychological practice.

Professional Responsibilities

A component of responsibility requiring adherence to established professional standards and principles.

Ethical Responsibilities

Specific, actionable guidelines and practical procedures (such as APA/BPS guidelines) derived from philosophical values to protect participants and clients from harm.

Social Responsibilities

A component of responsibility requiring psychologists to contribute to societal welfare, address social issues, and intervene against false beliefs and social stigma.

APA Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct

Discipline-specific guidelines that operationalize broad philosophical values into concrete, actionable procedures for psychology.