General ethical issues

• How to deal with fully informed consent?

  • P’s must be told about the aims of the study and sign a consent form, indicating they are good to participate.
• How to deal with deception?

   P’s must be fully debriefed after the experiment about the true aims, if not happy about this, they can withhold their data
• How to deal with anonymity?

  P’s are referred to as numbers and not with their actual names
• How to deal with the right to withdraw?

  • P’s must have the right to withdraw, knowing there are no consequences for their actions.
  • This must be on the consent form
• How to deal with harm in general?

  • Right to withdraw helps
  • Researcher must have common sense in stopping the experiment if he feels that the experiment has gone wrong in any way.
  • Debrief should help any embarrassed p’s.
• How to consider all issues?

  • Cost-benefit analysis should be drawn to look at possible ethical issues and whether it is worth the results.
  • Are the possible ethical issues worth the results of the experiment?
• How do you write a debrief?

  1. Thank p’s for participating 
  2. Explain the true purpose; different conditions, expected results and why
  3. Explain basic rights to withhold data and contact if needed