Lesson 6: Ethical Issues

• What is the main concern of ethics in psychology?

  Making judgments on acceptable behavior
• What does ethical behavior in psychology include?

  Treating others with respect and balancing rights
• What is the conflict in psychological research regarding ethics?

  Between research goals and participants' rights
• What does BPS stand for?

  British Psychological Society
• What is the aim of the BPS?

  To promote ethical principles for psychologists
• What does the BPS Code of Ethics emphasize?

  Acceptable and unacceptable behavior in research
• What is meant by respect for autonomy in the BPS Code?

  Respecting individuals' cultural and individual differences
• What does scientific integrity entail according to BPS?

  Not claiming misleading findings and social responsibility
• What is required for informed consent?

  Participants must be aware of research aims
• What is the purpose of a consent form?

  To inform participants about the study details
• What is prior general consent?

  Consent for multiple studies involving deception
• What is presumptive consent?

  Consent from a similar group to the participants
• What is retrospective consent?

  Consent given after participation during debrief
• What is the purpose of a debrief?

  To inform participants about the study's true aims
• What information is provided during a debrief?

  True aims, procedures, and data usage
• What does confidentiality refer to in research?

  Participants' right to control their personal information
• How should researchers ensure confidentiality?

  By keeping data anonymous through coding
• What is deception in psychological research?

  Deliberately misleading participants about the study
• How should researchers handle deception?

  Inform participants during the debrief about true aims
• What should participants know about withdrawal?

  They can withdraw at any time without pressure
• How can researchers ensure participants know about withdrawal rights?

  Brief them at the start and during the study
• What is the responsibility of investigators regarding protection from harm?

  To protect participants from physical and mental harm
• How should researchers deal with protection from harm?

  Provide a full debrief at the end of the study
• What are the key ethical principles outlined by the BPS Code of Ethics?

  • Respect for autonomy, privacy, and dignity
  • Scientific integrity
  • Maximizing benefits and minimizing harm
  • Not placing participants at undue risk
• What are the steps to ensure informed consent?

  1. Provide a consent form with study details
  2. Use prior general consent for multiple studies
  3. Obtain presumptive consent from similar groups
  4. Allow retrospective consent during debrief
• What are the procedures for debriefing participants?

  • Inform about true aims of the study
  • Explain experimental procedures and groups
  • Clarify data usage
  • Remind about the right to withdraw data
• How should confidentiality be maintained in research?

  • Keep data anonymous through coding
  • Use initials or aliases in case studies
  • Clearly state confidentiality in consent and debrief forms
• What are the ethical considerations regarding deception in research?

  • Deliberately misleading participants must be justified
  • Participants should be informed during debrief
  • Retrospective consent is crucial if deception is used
• What are the guidelines for ensuring participants' right to withdraw?

  • Brief participants about withdrawal at the start
  • Remind them during the investigation
  • Reiterate their right to withdraw data in debrief
• What measures should be taken to protect participants from harm?

  • Ensure risks are no greater than ordinary life
  • Provide a full debrief after the study
  • Reassure participants about their behavior in the study