Ethical issues and solutions

• Informed consent-

  • participants are aware of the aims of the research, procedure, their rights and the use of the data
  • may make the study meaningless, but the participants behaviours will be natural due to knowing the aims
• Deception-

  • deliberately misleading/withholding information from the participants
  • justified if it doesn't cause the participants distress
• Protection from harm-

  • shouldn’t be placed at any more risk than thy would in their own daily lives
  • protected from physical and psychological harm- embarrassment, stress, pressure
• Privacy and confidentiality-

  • the right to control information about themselves
  • Law under the Data Protection Act
  • privacy extends to the study’s location
• BPS code of conduct-

  • British Psychological Society- code of ethics
  • participants treated with respect and consideration
  • implemented by ethics committees, using a. cost-benefit approach
• Dealing with informed consent-

  • participants given a consent form including the relevant information, then they make their own decision if they want to continue, then it is signed
  • Children under 16 have to have parental consent
  • presumptive consent- using a similar group to then get their view of if its appropriate making it ‘presumed’
  • prior general consent- permission given to take part in multiple studies, deceived due to not knowing what one they’re doing
  • retrospective consent- asked for consent during the debrief, after the study (Deception/unaware of participation)
• Dealing with deception and protection from harm-

  • debrief makes the participants aware of the investigations aims and anything else they didn't know
  • told what the data will be used for, and can withdraw themselves from the study
  • concerns should be reassured, or given counselling if required
• Dealing with confidentiality-

  • Participants must remain anonymous, using initials (case studies)
  • constantly reminded that they will remain anonymous