Ethical Guidelines

• The British Psychological Society - responsible for the promotion of excellence and ethical practice
• Can - Consent

  Do - Deception

  Cant - Confidentially

  Do - Debrief

  With - Withdraw

  Participants - Psychological harm
• BPS’ code of conduct - respect, competence, integrity and responsibility
• Informed consent - Participants must be informed of the purpose of the study, the nature of the procedure, and the possible risks and benefits
• Epstein and Lasagna found that only a third of particpants volunteering understood what they had agreed to take part in
• Consent form must include; purpose of study, time commitments, right to withdraw and confidentiality
• Deception prevents participants being able to give informed consent
• The Data Protection Act makes confidentiality a legal right.
• Brief

  Prior to the Study

  Participants should be made aware of their rights during the brief
• Debrief

  After the Study

  During the debrief participants are fully informed; reminded of their rights and given the opportunity to withdraw
• It is considered acceptable if the harm is no greater than a participant would be like to experience in ordinary life, and if participants are in the same state as they were before the study
• A researcher may guarantee anonymity but even then it may be obvious in a study.
• Consent letter must include how details will be kept confidential
• Brief must include; aim, confidentiality, right to withdraw, consent and verbatim (written how it would be said)
• Debrief must include; aim, hypothesis (IV and DV), confidentiality, right to withdraw, questions that lead t support and verbatim