Ethical Guidelines and Ethical Issues

AQA A-Level Psychology - Research Methods

5 ethical guidelines

• Informed consent

• Deception

• Confidentiality

• Right to widthdraw

• Protection from harm

Ethical issues occur when -

There is a conflict between the rights of participants and the overall aims of the research.

Informed consent

• Patricipants are aware of what is expected of them in the study.

• Can agree to take part knowing the purpose of the research and what they’re required to do

• Under 16’s require parental consent.

Deception

• When researchers deliberately lie to participants.

Confederates

Researchers pretending to be participants e.g. in an obedience study.

Confidentiality

Participants have the right to control and protect information about themselves.

• Names/ personal data should be anonymised.

Protection from harm

• Participants should not be placed at more risk than they would face in everyday life.

• Protected from both physical and psychological harm.

Right to widthdraw

• Ensure participants are aware they can leave the study at any point, and they can widthdraw their data for a short period after the study (specify the date).