Ethics

• ethical issues


  a conflict between ppts' rights and researchers' needs to gain valuable and meaningful findings
• BPS code of ethics


  a legal document produced by the British Psychological Society (BPS) that instructs psychologists in the UK about what behaviour and isn't acceptable when dealing with ppts.
• the four major ethical issues


  -informed consent

  -deception

  -protection from harm

  -privacy and confidentiality
• informed consent


  ppts. must be given information on the purpose of the research and their role so they can make an informed decision about whether to participate
• deception


  a ppt. is not told the true aims of the study and so cannot give truly informed consent
• protection from harm


  during a study ensuring that ppts. are not at any more psychological or physical risk than they would be in their daily lives
• privacy


  a person's right to control the flow of information about themselves
• confidentiality


  concerns the communication of personal information from one person to another and the trust that the information will be protected
• informed consent solution


  ppts. issues with consent letter detailing relevnt info that might affect their decision to participate.

  should be made aware of their right to withdraw
• deception solution


  debrief- happens at the end of study, ppts. made aware of true aims of study
• protection from harm solution


  debrief- happens at the end of a study, ppts. are made aware of true aims of the study, should be made aware that their behaviour was typical or normal and in extreme cases counselling offered
• privacy and confidentiality solution


  maintain the anonymity of ppts.

  reminder during debrief that ppts. date will be protected