(6) Ethical Issues and Dealing with EI

• one important aim if psychology is to conduct worthwhile and innovative research whilst respecting participants dignity and well being
• Psychologists need to conduct research in accordance with the guidance set down by their professional organisation
• Psychologists must follow either the :

  • British psychological Society (BPS)
  • American Psychological Society (APS)
• ethical issues arise when conflict exists between the rights of the participants in research and the goals of the research to produce authentic, valid and worthwhile data
• The BPS code of ethics is a quasi-legal document produced by the BPS - instructs psychologists in the UK
• the BPS code of ethics prevents behaviour is not acceptable when dealing with participants
• the BPS code of ethics is built around four major principles :

  • respect
  • competence
  • Responsibility
  • integrity
• Ethical Issues :

  • arise when a conflict or dilemma exists between participants rights and researchers need to gain valuable and meaningful findings
  • conflict has implications for the safety and wellbeing of participants
• BPS code of conduct :

  • BPS code of ethics includes a set of ethical guidelines
  • researchers have a professional duty to observe these guidelines when conducting research - may lose their job
  • ensure all participants are treated with respect and consideration
  • Guidelines are implemented by ethic committees (Universities and hospitals) in research institutions who often use a cost benefit approach - more positive than negative - determines whether particular research proposals are ethically acceptable
• cost benefit analysis is the responsibility of the ethics committee
• benefits+costs of cost-benefit analysis :

  • benefits : value or ground breaking nature of the research
  • costs : damaging effect on the individual participants or to the reputation of psychology as a whole
• cost benefit analysis = a tool used to compare the costs and benefits of a project or policy

  want more positives than negatives when conducting a research
• often theres conversations around whether the scientific benefits worth the ethical cost (worthwhile)
• Ethical Issues :

  • lack of informed consent
  • deception
  • Physical or psychological harm to participant(s)
  • lack of debriefing
  • lack of privacy and confidentiality
• Informed Consent :

  • making participants aware of the aims of the research, the procedures, their rights (including the right to withdraw) and how the data will be used
  • participants should make an informed judgement whether or not to take part without being coerced or feeling obliged
  • researchers POV : informed consent may make the study meaningless - participant behaviour will not be 'natural' as they know the aims of the study (demand characteristics)
• Dealing with Informed Consent :

  • participants should be issued with a consent letter or form detailing all relevant information that might affect their decision to participate - may not be all the information (keep aims hidden to avoid unnatural behaviour)
  • need signatures
  • Children under 16 - need parent signature for consent
• a researcher believes the problem with informed consent is that it may spoil the research - participants know what is being studied and may alter their behaviour accordingly
• there are three alternative ways to get informed consent :

  • presumptive consent
  • prior general consent
  • Retrospective consent
• Presumptive Consent :

  • not getting consent from the participants themselves but a similar group
  • the similar group are asked if they think the study is acceptable
  • if the group agrees then the consent of the original participant is 'presumed'
• Prior General Consent :

  • participants give their permission to take part in a number of different studies - including one that will involve deception
  • by consenting, participant effectively consent to be deceived
• Retrospective Consent :

  • participants asked for their consent during debriefing - already taken part in the study
  • Participant may not be aware of their participation (field studies) or may have been subject to deception
• Deception :

  • deliberately misleading or withholding information from participants at any stage of the investigation
  • deception involves lack of informed consent - participants not received adequate information when they agreed to take part or deceived
  • deception can be justified if it does not cause the participants undue distress
• Protection from Harm :

  • participants should not be placed at any more risk than they would be in their daily lives
  • should be proceed from physical and psychological harm
  • includes not feeling embarrassed, inadequate or placed uner undue stress or pressure
  • participant should be reminded they have the right to withdraw from the investigation at any point
• debriefing deals with deception and protection from harm
• Debriefing :

  • Participants should be given full debrief at the end of the study
  • Participant should be made aware of the true aims of the investigation + any detail they were not given during the study
  • should be made aware of the existence of other groups or experimental conditions
  • should be told how their data will be used + given right to withdraw data if they wish-especially is retrospective consent was used
  • Participants should be reassured their behaviour was typical and normal-expected within the realms of the experiment
  • extreme cases : should be provided with counselling
• Privacy and Confidentiality :

  • Participants have the right to control information about themselves
  • right to privacy
  • Confidentiality should be protected if personal information is used in the research
  • right to privacy extend to the area where the study took place - Institutions or geographical locations are not named
• Confidentiality :

  • refers to our right, enshrined in law under the Data Protection Act, to have any personal data protected
  • securing the data (protected)
• Dealing with Confidentiality :

  • if personal details are held, these must be protected
  • more often personal detail is not recorded - maintain anonymity
  • researcher refers to participants using numbers or initials
  • case studies : psychologists use initials or different name when describing the individual(s) involved
  • during briefing and debriefing - participants are reminded that their data will be protected throughout the process