Ethics

• Ethical considerations


  • Informed consent
  • Deception
  • Confidentiality/privacy
  • Right to withdraw
  • Protection from harm
  • Respect
• Ethical committees


  Approve research proposals and weigh up the costs and benefits before deciding if a study should go ahead
• Consent forms


  Overcome issues of informed consent, anonymity/privacy, and right to withdraw
• What is included in a consent form


  • Aim of the study and what will be involved
  • How long it will take
  • Other ethical rights e.g. right to withdraw
  • Statement of agreement with a place to sign and date
  • Give the participants a chance to ask questions
  • Written in future tense
• Overcoming deception


  Debriefing - participants are told the true aims of the study, reminded of ethical rights, and given the chance to ask questions
• Alternative forms of consent

  • Retrospective - get consent after the study
  • Presumptive - ask a similar group to the participants taking part in the study
  • Prior general consent - participants are asked whether they are prepared to take part in research where they might be deceived about the true purpose