Ethics

main principles of the Australian Psychological Society Code of Ethics

respect for the rights and dignity of people, propriety, integrity

ethical guidelines purpose

ensure research has merit, integrity, and regard for participants

requirements for ethical research

benefit outweighs risk, meets requirements of ethics committee

alternatives to the use of animals

replacement (simulator, AI, lesser animals), reduction, refinement (to minimise harm)

8 key ethical principles

research merit and integrity, justice, beneficence, respect, confidentiality, informed consent, voluntary participation, right to withdraw

research merit and integrity definition

the research must have potential benefit, be well explained and designed, and conducted by competent people

justice definition

participants must be recruited fairly and not exploited

beneficence definition

participants must have likely benefits, or compensation and justification for any actions

respect definition

researchers must regard welfare, beliefs, customs, and culture

confidentiality definition

secrecy of information within a relationship, meaning researchers must not share information without consent

privacy definition

protection of participants' data from unwanted third parties, which governs data type and collection

informed consent definition

participants must know the nature of the experiment, potential risks, deception, and must be written

power of attorney definition

parent/guardian may consent if the participant is under 18 or is mentally disabled

participant rights in psychological research

all participants have the right to protection from both physical and psychological harm