ETHICAL ISSUES

• Ethical issues are a conflict that can arise between the rights of the participants in a research study and the goal of the study which is to produce valid and reliable data 
• 1. Informed consent – telling the participant the aim, the procedure, their rights (right to withdraw) and how their data will be used. Participants are then able to make an informed decision on whether to participate. HOWEVER, this may hinder the outcome of the study as the participants know the aim of the study (demand characteristics) 
• Dealing with informed consent

  1. Presumptive consent – using a similar group of people to agree to whether the study is acceptable. If so, the consent is ‘presumed’. 
  2. Prior general consent – participants will give their consent to multiple studies including ones that may involve deception thus consenting to be deceived. 
  3. Retrospective consent – asked for their consent after the study during the debrief – may have already been deceived or unaware of study. 
• Deception – deliberately misleading or withholding information therefore no informed consent BUT this can be justified if the participants are not harmed or put under any distress at all. 
• Protection from harm – participants should not be put under any risk of harm including embarrassment, inadequacy or stress etc. Should be protected from physical or psychological harm and be reminded of their right to withdraw. 
• Dealing with deception and protection from harm


  Participants should be given a full debrief at the end of the study which includes the true aims and any details not given at the start of the study, how their data will be used, the right to withdraw and the right to withhold data. They should be reassured that their behaviour is normal and offered counselling if they feel threatened or harmed in any way. 
• Right to withdraw – should have and be made aware of the ability to remove themselves from the research if they feel threatened, ill or at risk. 
• Privacy and confidentiality – refer to the right to have any personal data protected – extends to the geographical location or institution where the study is taking place 
• Dealing with confidentiality


  Protect the confidentiality of participants or maintain anonymity by using numbers, for example, instead of names when writing up the study. Reminded during the brief and debrief that their data will be confidential to get true responses. 
• Consent form (brief)


  Dear participants, aim, procedure (length, timings, tasks), data confidentiality, right to withdraw, counselling and support available. 
• I Can't Physically Do Real World Cartwheels.