Ethical issues

ethical issues

arise when a conflict exist between the rights of participants in research studies and the goals of the research to produce authentic, valid and worthwhile data

BPS code of ethics

• quasi-legal document produced by BPS

• instructs psychologists in the UK about what behavior is/isn’t acceptable when dealing with participants

• major principles

major principles

respects, competence, integrity, responsibility

informed consent

participants agreeing to take part in the study after being fully informed of the aims and procedures

psychological harm

emotional distress or embarrassment caused to participants during, after the study

cost-benefit analysis

weighing the ethical costs of a study against benefits of increased knowledge

ethics committee

group checking research before it begins to make sure it’s safe, fair, respectful

presumptive consent

asking a similar group to participants if the study is accceptable, presuming agreement

prior general consent

participants give permission to take part in a number of different studies including one involving deception, consent to be deceived

retrospective consent

participants asked for consent during debriefing when already taken part in the study, may not been aware, deliberately deceived

informed consent

participant's voluntary agreement to take part after being told purpose, procedures, risks, benefits, rights

right to withdraw

participant’s right to leave the study at any time without penalty, often to remove data

deception

deliberately misleading, withholding information abut the true aim, only allowed if necessary and later explained

debrief

after the study researcher explains the true purpose, reveals deception, check wellbeing, answers questions

protection from harm

researchers can’t expose participants to physical or psychological harm beyond normal in everyday life

psychological harm

mental or emotional distress cause by taking part such as stress, anxiety, embarrassment

privacy

person’s right to control access to their personal space, thoughts, information

confidentiality

keeping participants’ data private and not sharing identifying information

right to withhold data

right to refuse to give certain information or to ask for their data to be removed

anonymity

participant’s identity isn’t collected or can’t be linked to their data

dealing with informed consent

• signing a consent letter detailing all relevant information

• under 16 parent’s signature

• alternative way of getting consent

dealing with deception and protection from harm

• full debrief at the end

• counselling in extreme cases

dealing with privacy and confidentiality

• protecting personal details with anonymity

• briefing, debriefing to remind data is protected