Ethics

• What are the four principles of ethics?

  • respect for dignity of all people
  • competence - should not provide services outside your skills/knowledge
  • responsibility to not use research to control or discriminate
  • integrity as research must be well designed and valid
• Why are ethical guidelines used?

  To maximise benefits of research and minimise risk to participants
• Risk of physical or psychological harm

  • can be caused by invasive testing (e.g. administration of drugs, vigorous physical exercise, etc.)
  • Milgram's study caused psychological and physical harm
• Confidentiality


  The communication of personal information from one person to another and the trust that the information will be protected.
• Deception


  If a participant is not told the true aims of a study so they can't give valid consent.
• Valid consent


  Participants are given comprehensive information concerning the nature/purpose of the research and their role in it to ensure that they can make an informed decision on whether they want to participate or not. They must know exactly what the aims of the study are to give true valid consent.
• Privacy


  People should be able to control what information is shared about themselves when being studied, however an invasion of privacy can be hard to avoid in covert experiment/study.
• Working with vulnerable individuals

  • can be children, elderly or disabled
  • valid consent must be given by a parent or carer who can fully understand the aims of the study as the vulnerable person cannot give valid consent
• Working with animals


  • Reduce, Refine, Replace
  • only use animals if no other form of testing is possible
  • using the smallest number of animals
  • only using animals suitable/necessary to be tested on
  • ensure that research doesn't cause unnecessary illness, harm or death
  • obtain relevant licenses before testing
  • use captive bred animals if possible
  • provide appropriate care for the animal
• How can ethical issue be dealt with?

  • a full debrief after the study
  • giving the right to withdraw
  • provide access to support after the study
  • following guidelines