ethical issues

• what is a ethical issue?

  conflict between what the researcher needs in order to conduct useful & meaningful research & rights of participant
• what is bps?

  british pschological service
• name 6 ethical issues?

  1. deception
  2. consent
  3. protection of participants
  4. right to withdraw
  5. confidentiality
  6. privacy
• explain deception?

  sometimes its needed to deceive participants to prevent them from altering behaviour

  unethical - prevents participants being able to give fully informed consent

  may see researcher as untrustworthy
• how to resolve deception?

  debriefing

  at end of experiment should inform participants of true nature of research & ask them not to tell any future participants

  should also be offered info about findings & oppurtunity to withdraw their data
• explain consent?

  informed consent - when researcher informs participants of true aims of study & tells them whats going to happen

  are also told exactly what they will be required to do so can decide whether they wish to participate
• how to resolve consent?

  according to bps participants should provide voluntary informed consent - knowing purpose of study & their right to withdraw
• name 3 types of consent?

  1. prior general consent
  2. presumptive consent
  3. parental consent
• explain prior general consent?

  involves participants giving their consent to participate in research that involves deception
• explain presumptive consent?

  asking people who are similar to participants whether they would agree to take part in study
• explain parental consent?

  if investigation involves participants under age of 16 signature of parent is required
• explain protection of participants?

  may be necessary to cause a degree of distress

  it is difficult to predict outcome & diffcult to guarantee protection from harm

  considered acceptable if distress is no more than they would experience in everyday life

  participants should leave in the same psychological & physical state as they entered
• resolve protection from harm?

  test whether the harm they have suffered is more than they would have experienced in everyday life
• explain right to withdraw?

  if participants begin to feel uncomfortable/distressed they should be able to withdraw

  when participants are paid to take part it can often make them feel they cant withdraw
• resolve right to withdraw?

  participants should be informed at beginning that they can stop participating & can leave at any time

  should also be reminded during & at end
• explain confidentiality?

  participants have the right to control info about themselves

  participants personal details must be protected
• resolve confidentiality?

  use a pseudonym - fake name

  anonymity must be maintained
• explain privacy?

  participants should not expect to have their privacy/personal space invaded
• resolve privacy?

  participants should not be studied in certain situations where they wouldnt expect to be normally seen