Ethical Issues Booklet 3

Outline what is meant by Informed Consent in psychological research

Outline what is meant by Informed Consent in psychological research

Making participants aware of the aims, procedures, their rights (including the right to withdraw) and how data will be used

Outline what is meant by Deception in psychological research

Deliberately misleading or withholding information at any stage of an investigation. If participants haven’t given informed consent or have been deliberately lied to, this is deception.

Outline what is meant by Protection from harm in psychological research

Protecting participants for great levels of physical and psychological harm.

Outline what is meant by Confidentiality in psychological research

The right (by law) to have information about yourself protected. This would include any personal details but also details of geographical location or institution where research was carried out.

What is meant by Cost-benefit analysis?

The benefit of the research’s value vs the cost of the damaging effect the experiment may have on the participants

What is the role of the BPS code of ethics?

Instructs psychologists in the UK of what behaviour is and isn’t acceptable when dealing with participants. It is built to value the principles of respect, competence, responsibility and integrity.

Explain presumptive consent

A similar group of people (not the participants themselves) are asked if the study is acceptable. If the group agree , consent from the original participants is “assumed”.

Explain prior general consent

Participants agree to take part in a study but they also agree to not know the details of the study- in other words, they are agreeing to be decieved!

Explain retrospective consent

Participants are asked for their consent after they have taken part in the study. They may not have been aware of their participation (for example- field experiment)

List the 3 Guidelines of Deception

Deception is only acceptable if all these guidelines are met

1. It is absolutely necessary for the success of the research

2. Participants are not likely to object or show unease once debriefed

3. There is no other alternative research method available that does not involve deception

What are the 5 ways of dealing with deception?

1. Debrief participants at end of study

2. Give participants the right to withhold data if they wish

3. Reassure them their behaviour is normal

4. Get retrospective consent

5. Do a cost-benefit analysis

(in rare cases offer counselling)

What are 2 ways of dealing with Protection from harm?

1. Give participants the right to withdraw at any point if possible

2. Do a cost-benefit analysis

What are 3 ways of dealing with privacy and confidentiality?

1. Anonymity (do not record personal details)

2. Anonymous questionnaires

3. Remind in briefing and debriefing that data will be protected