Ethics

What does BPS stand for?

British Psychological Society

What do BPS ethical guidelines do?

Guide researchers on how to treat participants with respect and compassion

Who approves research plans for ethical issues?

An ethics committee

What does DRIPP stand for?

Deception - Right to withdraw - Informed consent - Protection from harm - Privacy

What is deception?

Misleading or lying to participants (e.g. using confederates)

What is a confederate?

An actor working for the researcher who the participant believes is another participant

How can deception be dealt with?

Debriefing and fully disclosing the true aim afterwards

What is the right to withdraw?

Participants can leave at any time and can have their data removed

When should participants be reminded of their right to withdraw?

At the start and during and at the end of the study

What is informed consent?

Participants agree after being told the aims and procedure and conditions

What is presumptive consent?

A similar group is asked if they would agree and their consent is assumed for the sample

What is prior general consent?

Participants agree in advance that they may not be told everything until afterwards

What is retrospective consent?

Participants are asked after the debrief if their data can be used

What is protection from harm?

Participants should not suffer physical or psychological harm

How can distress be dealt with?

Debrief and signpost to counselling

What is privacy?

Participants have a right not to have their personal lives invaded

What is confidentiality?

Keeping participants' personal data anonymous

How can confidentiality be maintained?

Use initials or participant numbers and change identifying details

Why is observing someone in a supermarket acceptable but not through a kitchen window?

People expect to be seen in public places but not in their homes

What is a strength of following ethical guidelines?

It is morally right and protects the reputation of psychology

What is a weakness of deception?

Deceived participants become suspicious in future studies (e.g. Johnson and Scott)

What is a weakness of full informed consent?

It increases demand characteristics and reduces validity

What is a weakness of the right to withdraw?

Data may come from an unrepresentative sample

What is a weakness of protection from harm?

Makes it difficult to research pain or distress or humiliation

Why might a researcher break an ethical guideline?

To maintain validity (e.g. avoiding demand characteristics)

How are animal studies justified ethically?

Harm is balanced against the value of findings for reducing human sufferin