Ethical issues and ways of dealing with them

• Conflict and Dilemma


  Ethical issues arise in psychology when a conflict/dilemma exists between ppts' rights and researchers needs to gain valuable and meaningful findings. This conflict has implications for the safety and wellbeing of ppts
• Rights of ppt

  Ppts should know what they are getting into before they participate.
• Informed consent

  Informed consent makes ppts aware of aims of the R, the procedures, their rights (giving ppt to withdraw at any time) and what the data will be used for causing ppts to make an informed judgement.
• Impact of informed consent on research

  For research, informed consent makes study useless because ppts' behaviour will not be natural - they know the aims of study
• Dealing with informed consent

  A consent letter or detailing form with all relevant information should be given to ppts. For studies with children under 16, signature of parental consent is required. There are other ways of informed consent.
• Presumptive consent

  Presumptive consent- asking similar group of people if study is acceptable and then, consent then is 'presumed'.
• Prior general consent

  Ppts agree to take part in number of different studies including one deception meaning ppts consenting to be deceived
• Retrospective consent


  Ppts asked for consent in debriefing
• Deception

  Deliberately misleading/withholding information form ppts. Ppts do not receive adequate info and thus can't give informed consent
• Acceptable deception


  Sometimes, deception is acceptable if it does not cause ppts undue distress
• Protection from harm

  PPs shouldn't be placed in any more risk than in their daily lives. Should be protected from any psychological and physical harm
• Dealing with deception and protection from harm


  Ppts should be given a full debrief where ppts shown the aims of experiment and details they were not supplies with at the start of the study like the existence of other groups for example.
• Ppts and data

  Ppts told what their data will be used for and reminded that they have the right to withdraw their data
• Reassurance


  Some ppts need reassuring that their behaviour was typical/normal and in some cases, ppts may need counselling due to psychological damage
• Privacy and Confidentiality


  ppts have the right to control info about themselves 'Right of privacy'. Confidentiality refers to our right in Law under 'Data Protection Act' to have personal data protected. Right to privacy extends to the area the study took place in.
• Dealing with confidentiality

  Maintain anonymity of participants so using numbers or initials to represent them and protect their data. In debriefing, ppts should be reminded that their data is protected.
• BPS code of conduct

  The BPS, has its own BPS code of ethics and this includes a set of ethical guidelines. Researchers have a professional duty to observe these guidelines when conducting research. If they don't they lose their jobs. This is an attempt to treat every ptps with respect and consideration during each phase of research.
• Ethics committees


  Guidelines are implemented by ethics committees in research institutions who often use the cost-benefit approach to determine whether research proposals are ethically acceptable.