2 deliberately misleading or falsely informing PPS about the nature of research.

Question 1

Define deception

Answer 1

deliberately misleading or falsely informing PPS about the nature of research.

Question 2

What are the risks of deception

Answer 2

Can cause potential distress and harm to PPS

Question 3

What is the issue with sometimes having to deceive participants

Answer 3

in some cases, statements about the purpose of the psychological research before data collection would make some psychological research impossible (e.g. Milgram).

Question 4

Outline 4 points the BPS guidelines make about deception

Answer 4

• PPS should not be lied to about the aim and hypothesis of a study
• Misleading information or withholding information is considered deceptive
• withholding information would be considered acceptable if it was considered unlikely that revelations about the research through debriefing would not cause distress or anger
• Where research involves deception it should be designed in such a way that it protects the dignity and anonymity of the pps.

Question 5

What can a lack of confidentiality lead to

Answer 5

risks to the PPS

Question 6

Outline 4 points the BPS guidelines make about confidentiality

Answer 6

• All data should remain confidential unless otherwise agreed in advance to avoid labelling and risks to pps status and/or privacy.
• Pps have a right to expect that the information they provide will be treated confidentially and, if published, not to be identifiable as their own.
• researchers should follow guidelines of the Data Protection Act.
• using pp numbers rather than names, and only recording data that is relevant to the investigation

Question 7

What do BPS guidelines say about Stress, anxiety, humiliation or pain BPS Guidelines

Answer 7

• Harm to participants must be avoided.
• The risk of harm should be no greater than in ordinary life.
• Pps must not be exposed to psychological or physical harm
• If research contains legitimate risks consideration must be taken that research is being undertaken for the greater good of society as a whole.
• In instances where risk is unavoidable, the use of a risk analysis should be undertaken to identify, quantify and manage potential hazards.

Question 8

What type of research is likely to cause Risks to the PPS values, beliefs, status or privacy

Answer 8

focuses on socially sensitive topics (sexuality) and includes potentially sensitive data (confidential documents).

Question 9

What is the issue with Risks to the PPS values, beliefs, status or privacy

Answer 9

it is difficult to determine all potential risks at the onset of research (Milgram)

Question 10

What do BPS guidelines state about Risks to the PPS values, beliefs, status or privacy

Answer 10

• Research should occur overtly to allow pps the right to decline to participate or to withdraw from the process.
• Covert collection of data should only take place where it is essential to achieve the results required, due to strong scientific merit. This will be decided through a cost-benefit analysis undertaken by an ethical committee
• Studies based on observation in a natural setting must respect the privacy and psychological wellbeing of the pps, the only exceptions to this being when valid consent has been gained or when pps are observed in a public situation

Question 11

What can lack of valid consent lead to

Answer 11

risks for the PPS

Question 12

Define valid consent

Answer 12

giving PPS enough information (in a form they can understand) so that they can make an informed choice about whether they wish to participate.

Question 13

What do BPS guidelines state about valid consent

Answer 13

• the level of consent required is directly proportionate to the risk for the pps involved.
• Pps should usually give written consent to participate in the research, where any unusual discomfort, or negative consequences, should be made clear to the participants before they provide consent.

Question 14

Who are vulnerable individuals

Answer 14

Children under the age of 16, those lacking in mental capacity, or individuals in a dependent or unequal relationship, people in care, people in custody (prison) or on probation, and people engaged in illegal activities, such as drug use,

Question 15

BPS guidelines on working with vulnerable individuals

Answer 15

• researchers should constantly assess pps willingness to participate. This could be done through observing both verbal and non-verbal clues which suggests the pp does not wish to continue.
• the researcher should seek the approval of a person who is well placed to gauge their likely reactions to the research tasks.
• For children under 16 parental consent should be sought, or for research in schools consent can be sought from a senior member of staff (proxy consent).

Question 16

BPS guidelines on minimising risks

Answer 16

• follow procedures for valid consent, confidentiality, anonymity, fair treatment and ‘due process’ that is consistent with upholding that participants rights.
• participants are aware of and given the right to withdraw their participation or data at any point.
• participants should not be personally identifiable
• Unfair, prejudice practice should be avoided at all times both in pp selection and the content of the research itself.
• If valid consent before the research cannot be gained a Debrief is essential.
• Pps should leave the research as they arrived

Question 17

What do ethical guidelines attempt to do

Answer 17

attempt to provide a set of moral principles that guide research from its inception through to completion and publication of results.
Ethical issues should not arise in research that adheres to ethical guidelines.

Question 18

What are The four main principles of the British Psychological Society’s (BPS) guidelines

Answer 18

• respect for autonomy, privacy, and dignity of individuals and communities
• scientific integrity
• social responsibility
• maximising benefits and minimising harm.

Question 19

What is the role of a ethical committee

Answer 19

ensure that proposed research meets the standards of the current ethical codes of conduct and guidelines.

Question 20

What is the ethical committee responsible for

Answer 20

reviewing all research involving human participants, considering the safety of researchers, protecting the dignity, rights and welfare of the research participants, making informed judgements about the scientific merits of the proposed research, and making recommendations to the researcher if the proposed research is deemed to be unethical in any way

Question 21

Define the process of a peer review

Answer 21

1) Researcher submits article to journal]
2) The article is assessed by editor of journal
3) If accepted by editor article sent to anonymous reviewer
4) The reviewer will submit comments to the editor
5) The editor may reject article or return it to the author to make revisions
6) Revised article is re-submitted to editor for publication.

Question 22

Format for reporting Psychological Investigations

Answer 22

1) An abstract (summary of the study)
2) An introduction to existing knowledge on the topic (including lit review)
3) Methods ( such as sampling and research design) and procedures
4) Results including frequency tables, descriptive and/or inferential stats, and graphical representations
5) Conclusions (discussion) and implications of the research.
6) References