Conclusion

• 1

  • To conclude, balancing the benefits of research against ethical costs is difficult. 
  • Removing ethical costs with guidelines from BPS means we lose some understanding of behaviour but ignoring ethical costs is foolish
  • Aronson (1992) suggests our judgement of acceptability depends on the outcomes. If we learn something positive from our research people are more likely not to complain about the costs
• 2

  • However, if the results are more negative, criticisms are more common
  • McGhee concluded the problem with cost-benefit analysis is that they’re measured subjectively
  • Costs are specific to an individual whereas benefits are harder to quantify
  • Ultimately, psychologists have a duty to prevent past mistakes, so ethical costs will never be eliminated