Ethical issues

• What are the six key issues when dealing with psychological research?

  • Informed consent
  • Deception
  • Confidentiality
  • Right to withdraw
  • Protection from harm
  • Debrief
• How to deal with informed consent?

  Participants should be given enough information about the investigation to make a considered decision of whether or not to take part.
• How to deal with deception?

  • Information should not be withheld from participants during an investigation.
  • Participants should not be given false information or be misled throughout the study.
• How to deal with confidentiality?

  • Participant data should not be disclosed to anyone unless agreed in advance with participants. 
  • For data to be anonymous names should not be taken, instead participants may be given numbers.
  • Confidential data can be traced back to names so should be kept solely by the researchers.
• How to deal with right to withdraw?

  • Participants must be aware that they can leave the study at any point if they choose to do so. 
  • Participants should be told after the investigation during debrief that they can have their results removed from the investigation. 
• How to deal with protection from harm?

  • Participants should leave the study in exactly the same state as they entered. 
  • Researchers have a duty to protect participants from physical and psychological harm. 
  • Risk of harm should be no greater than in ordinary life
• How to deal with debriefing?

  • Relevant details of the study should be explained to participants before and after the study takes place.
  • Essential if deception has been used.