ethical issues

• deception


  refers to deliberately misleading or falsely informing participants about the nature of the research.
• • some forms of deception are less harmful than others and are necessary to maintain the validity of a study.
  • it may be necessary to deceive participants through omission of information.
• valid consent


  giving participants enough information (in a form they can understand,) so that they can make an informed choice about whether they wish to participate.
• • if a participant is deceived, they automatically fail to provide valid consent, as they don't have enough information to make an informed choice.
• confidentiality


  ensuring that third parties are not able to trace information back to an individual participant.
• risks of stress, anxiety, humiliation or pain


  occurs in instances where research could induce more than minimal pain through repetitive or prolonged testing.
• invasive testing, such as the administration of drugs, or vigorous physical excercise, would not usually be encountered in everyday life and is unethical as a result.
• risk to the participant's values, beliefs, relationships or privacy


  research that is likely to face this type of risk focuses on socially sensitive topics (e.g. sexuality, gender.)
• (risk to ppt's values) this can also include breaches in confidentiality, such as showing participants without valid consent to do so.
• vulnerable individuals


  vulnerable individuals face greater risks than other participants as the psychologist holds a posistion of power over these participants, and as such they are subject to closer safeguarding measures.
• vulnerable individuals are granted additional protections, through ethical guidelines and their use in psychological research is restricted.
• examples of vulnerable individuals include:

  • children under 16
  • those lacking in mental capacity
  • people in care
  • people in custody or on probation
  • people engaged in illegal activities such as drug use
• working with animals

  ethical guidelines for working with animals were first introduced in the UK in 1968 as part of the Animals Act.