Ethical Issues

• Cost-benefit analysis


  Studies may be justified on the grounds of what we learn, e.g. Milgram – the dangers of 'blind obedience'
• Validity


  Deception/lack of informed consent justified as demand characteristics are reduced, e.g. in Asch; would be difficult to investigate processes such as obedience without deception
• Use of debriefing in studies


  Retrospective consent, psychiatric follow-up assessments, etc.; participants confirmed they were happy to have taken part, etc.
• Counterarguments/discussion points related to specific studies

  Zimbardo's study led to reform of real prisons; Milgram awarded prize by APA
• Research was conducted at a time when ethical guidelines had not been established
• Studies could be argued to have led to introduction of guidelines which protected future participants