Ethics

• What are ethics?


  A set of moral principles used to guide human behaviour.
• What are morals?


  Refer to everyday standards of what is right or wrong.
• What are ethical issues?


  Arise when a conflict exists between the rights of the participants in the research studies and the goals of the researcher to produce authentic, valid and worthwhile data.
• What are the 6 ethical guidelines?

  • Informed consent (knowing what's going to happen and agreeing)
  • Deception (Told one thing is being tested but another is)
  • Protection from harm (preventing injury)
  • Debrief (telling participants after study what the aims were)
  • Confidentiality (not sharing data)
  • Right to withdraw (Pull out of study)
• What protocol should studies follow to stay in line with ethical guidelines?

  Participants should be issued with consent letter detailing all relevant info that might affect their decision to participate. At end of study, participants should be given full debrief. Within this, participants should be made aware of true aims of study and any details previously withheld. Should be told what data will be used for and be given the right to withdraw during and withhold data after study. Personal details must be protected. Refer to participants using initials/numbers when writing up investigation.