ethical guidelines

• Beneficence


  The commitment to maximising benefits and minimising the risks and harms involved in taking a particular position or course of action
• Integrity


  The commitment to searching for knowledge and understanding, the honest reporting of all sources of information and results, whether favourable or unfavourable, in ways that permit scrutiny and contribute to public knowledge and understanding
• Justice


  The moral obligation to ensure that there is fair consideration of competing claims; that there is no unfair burden on a particular group from an action; and that there is fair distribution and access to the benefits of an action
• Non-maleficence


  Involves avoiding the causations of harm. However, as positions or courses of actions in scientific research may involve some degree of harm, the concept of non-maleficence implies that the harm resulting from any position or course of action should not be disproportionate to the benefits from any position or course of action
• Respect


  Involves consideration of the extent to which living things have an intrinsic value and/or instrumental value; giving due regard to the welfare, liberty and autonomy, beliefs, perceptions, customs and cultural heritage of both the individual and the collective; consideration of the capacity of living things to make their own decisions; and when living things have diminished capacity to make their own decisions ensuring that they are empowered where possible and protected as necessary
• Confidentiality


  The privacy, protection and security of a participant's personal information in terms of personal details and the anonymity in individual results, including the removal of identifying elements. Confidentiality also includes the obligation of the researcher not to use or disclose private information for any purpose other than that for which it was given to them.
• Debriefing


  Ensures that at the end of the experiment, the participant leaves understanding the experimental aim, results and conclusions. Any questions participants have are addressed, and support is also provided to ensure there is no lasting harm from their involvement in the study. Debriefing is essential for all studies that involve deception.
• Informed consent procedures


  Ensure that participants understand the nature and purpose of the experiment, including potential risks (both physical and psychological), before agreeing to participate in the study. Voluntary written consent should be obtained by the experimenter and if participants are unable to give this consent, then a parent or legal guardian should provide this.
• Use of deception in research


  Is only permissible when participants knowing the true purpose of the experiment may affect their behaviour whilst participating in the study, and the subsequent validity of the experiment.
• Voluntary participation


  Ensures that no coercion or pressure is put on the participant to partake in an experiment, and they freely choose to be involved.
• Withdrawal rights


  Involves a participant being able to discontinue their involvement in an experiment at any time during or after the conclusion of an experiment, without penalty. This may include the removal of the participant's results from the study after the study is completed. Participants also have the right to withdraw without giving a reason for doing so.