Ethical issues

• What are ethical issues in research?


  Conflicts between the rights of participants and the researcher's needs
• What are the four major ethical issues in psychology?


  • Informed consent
  • Deception
  • Protection from harm
  • Privacy and confidentiality
• What is the role of the British Psychological Society (BPS) regarding ethical issues?


  They produce a set of ethical guidelines for researchers
• Who implements the ethical guidelines produced by the BPS?


  Ethics committees in research institutions
• What is the consequence of failing to observe ethical guidelines in research?


  It may lead to disbarment from the society
• What is involved in obtaining informed consent from participants?


  • Making participants aware of research aims and procedures
  • Informing them of their rights, including the right to withdraw
  • Explaining how their data will be used
• What is a potential issue with obtaining informed consent?


  It can lead to demand characteristics that invalidate findings
• What should participants receive to ensure informed consent?


  A consent form detailing all relevant information
• What is required if a participant is under 16 years old regarding consent?


  A signature of parental consent is required
• What is presumptive consent?


  Asking a similar group if the planned study is acceptable
• What does deception in research involve?


  Deliberately misleading or withholding information from participants
• Why is informed consent not possible if participants are deceived?


  Because they cannot make an informed decision
• What must be approved by an ethics committee regarding deception?


  The need for deception must be justified
• What should participants receive if they have been deceived?


  A full debrief explaining the true aims of the research
• What should participants be informed of during a debrief after deception?


  They should be informed of the true aims and their right to withdraw data
• What is the responsibility of researchers regarding protection from harm?


  Participants should not be at more risk than in daily life
• What types of harm should participants be protected from?


  Physical and psychological harm, including embarrassment and undue stress
• What must be approved by an ethics committee regarding protection from harm?


  The need for potential harm must be justified
• What should participants receive if they experience harm during research?


  A full debrief and potential counseling
• What is the right to privacy for participants?


  The right to control the flow of information about themselves
• What is confidentiality in research?


  The right to have personal information protected
• When can participants be studied without their awareness?


  Only in public places
• What does the Data Protection Act ensure regarding confidentiality?


  It makes confidentiality a legal right
• What should researchers do with personal details of participants?


  These must be protected and not disclosed
• How do researchers typically refer to participants in studies?


  Using numbers or initials instead of names