ethics

• ethics

  • ethical issues - dilemmas (should i deceive my P?)
  • ethical guidelines - guidance produced by professional bodies to help researchers deal with their dilemmas
• informed consent

  • what is it? - making sure Ps are aware of all aims / procedures before the study takes place
  • ways of dealing with it - all Ps sign consent forms, parental consent required for under 16s, retrospective consent (get it after)
• deception

  • what is it? - deliberately misleading Ps, makes informed consent impossible
  • how to deal with it - debrief at the end (inform Ps of what happened, what data will be used for and allow opportunity to withdraw results)
• protection from harm

  • what is it? - refers to physical / psychological harm. Ps should leave in the same condition they arrived
  • how to deal with it - reassure Ps their behaviour is normal, offer counselling if effects are extreme, follow up
• privacy and confidentiality

  • what is it? - linked to data protection laws
  • how to deal with it - maintain anonymity (dont record names and use numbers), dont share data with other researchers
• right to withdraw

  • what is it? - all Ps should be able to stop participating at any point
  • how to deal with it - tell people exactly how they can stop and make it very clear who they should speak to
• writing a consent form

  procedural details

  • purpose of study
  • outline of what happens
  • length of time needed to complete study

  ethical issues

  • informing P they have the right to withdraw
  • informing P theyre available to medical supervision and protection (protection from harm)

  tick boxes

  • theyve understood and read the form
  • theyve asked any questions they wish to
  • they understand they have right to withdraw
  • they consent to participate
• writing a debrief

  should include

  • study name
  • researcher name
  • researcher contact info for questions about research

  may contain

  • aim, hypothesis or purpose
  • way in which answers are evaluated
  • explain any deception
  • broader issues addressed by study
  • study methods, conditions and / or manipulations
  • anticipated / observed results so far

  make sure you

  • thank P
  • provide referenced for further reading on topic
  • offer to send results of the study
  • write in words that are easily understandable