Ethical issues

• informed consent= making participants aware of the aims, their rights and what their data will be used for.
• Deception= deliberately misleading or withholding information from participants at any stage of the investigation.
• Protection from harm= participants should not be placed at any more risk than they would be in their daily lives, and should be protected from physical and psychological harm.
• Privacy and confidentiality= the right to privacy and the right to keep personal information private
• Dealing with informed consent:

  Participants should be issued with a consent letter or form detailing all relevant information that might affect their decision to participate. Children under 16, a signature of parental consent is required.
• Dealing with deception and protection from harm:

  Participants should be given a full debrief at the end of a study (should be told the aim of the study and any details that were withheld during the study).
• Dealing with deception and protection from harm:

  Participants must be given the right to withdraw. If participants have been harmed in a psychological way they may require counselling which the researcher should provide.
• Dealing with confidentiality:

  Personal details must be protected. Often easier to maintain anonymity (using numbers or initials). During a briefing and debriefing, participants should be reminded that their data will be protected throughout the process and told that the data will not be shared.