Ethical Issues

What are ethical issues?

A situation where the moral rights and welfare of participants might conflict with the goals of scientific research.

What is the British Psychological Society (BPS) code of ethics and conduct?

A set of guidelines that psychologists in the UK must follow to ensure their work is ethical, professional and respectful of the rights are dignity of individuals.

What is informed consent?

Participants should understand what they are agreeing to take part in. They should be aware of what the research involves (e.g. aims and procedures), participant rights and what their data will be used for. Enabling them to make an informed judgement.

What is deception?

This is deliberately misleading or withholding information from participants at any stage of an investigation. This is linked to informed consent. Participants who haven’t received adequate information when they agreed to take part (or been lied to) are not able to give informed consent.

What is the right to withdraw?

Participants should know they have the right to withdraw (remove themselves or their data from the study). This includes after the research has been conducted, in which case the research must destroy and data or information collected.

What is protection from physical and psychological harm?

As a result of the involvement, participants shouldn’t be placed at more risk than they would be in their daily lives, and should be protected from physical and psychological harm (e.g. stress or embarrassment). An important feature of this issue is participants being reminded that they have the right to withdraw at any point.

What is confidentiality?

This is where a participant’s personal information is protected by law under the Data Protection Act both during and after the research. Their information should be kept private and not shared without consent.

What is privacy?

The requirement for ethical research that no participants are observed in situations that would be considered private/where they would be expected to be observed.

How is informed consent managed in research?

Participants should be issued with a consent form, detailing all information that might affect their decision to participate. If the participant agrees, then the consent form is signed. For investigations with children under 16, a signature of parental consent is required.

How is deception handled ethically?

At the end of the study participants should be given a full debrief. Within this, participants should be made aware of the true aims of the investigation and any details not supplied during the study, such as the existence of the other groups or experimental conditions. Participants should be told they have the right to withdraw their data.

How is the right to withdraw ensured?

Participants should be informed at the beginning of the study that they have the right to withdraw. At the end of the study, participants should be fully debriefed and told the true aim and nature of the research. At this points participants, should be given the right to withdraw their data.

How is protection from physical and psychological harm maintained?

The researcher should remind participants of their right to withdraw throughout and after the research. Researchers should stop the study if harm is suspected e.g. if participants become distressed.

How is confidentiality protected?

Researchers refer to participants using numbers or initials when writing up the investigation and assure anonymity. In published work, participants should not be identifiable in any way.

How is privacy respected?

Do not study anyone without their informed consent unless it is in a public place.