7. Ethical Issues And Ways Of Dealing With Them AO1

Question 1

Define ethical issues

Answer 1

When a conflict exists between the rights of participants and the aims of the research

Question 2

How is it decided if a study should go ahead or not?

Answer 2

Ethics committees weigh up costs and benefits and decide if it should go ahead

Question 4

Define informed consent

Answer 4

Participants should be able to make an informed judgement about taking part

Question 5

What could occur with informed consent?

Answer 5

Too much information may affect participants’ behaviour

Question 6

Have has the issue with informed consent been overcome?

Answer 6

By coming up with three alternative forms of consent:

1. Presumptive - ask a similar group
2. Prior general - agree to be deceived
3. Retrospective- get consent after the study

Question 7

What is deception

Answer 7

Deliberately misleading or withholding information so consent is not informed

Question 8

What should be done at the end of a deceptive study?

Answer 8

Participants should be debriefed and advised of 4 things

Question 9

What should participants be given to protect them from harm?

Answer 9

1. The right to withdraw at each stage of the research process
2. Reassurance that their behaviour was typical/normal surfing their debrief
3. Provided with counselling if distressed

Question 10

What are the tree criteria for maintaining privacy/confidentiality?

Answer 10

1. If personal details are held these must be protected - usually no personal details recorded
2. Researchers refer to participants using numbers, initials or fake names
3. Participants’ personal data cannot be shared with other researchers

Question 11

What is an association?

Answer 11

Illustrates the strength and direction of an association between two co-variables

Question 12

What is a scattergram?

Answer 12

Correlations are plotted on a scattergram, one co-variable is on the x-axis and the other on the y-axis

Question 13

What are the three types of correlations?

Answer 13

1. Positive correlation
2. Negative correlation
3. Zero correlation

Question 14

What is a positive correlation?

Answer 14

Co-variables rise or fall together

Question 15

What is a negative correlation?

Answer 15

One co-variable rises and the other falls

Question 16

What is a zero correlation?

Answer 16

No relationship between the two variables

Question 17

What is the difference between correlations and experiments?

Answer 17

~ Experiment - researcher manipulates IV, records effect on DV
~ Correlation- no manipulation of variables, cause and effect cannot be demonstrated

Question 18

Name a strength of using correlations

Answer 18

Less time consuming than experiments

Question 19

What are the four things participants should be told in debrief after being deceived

Answer 19

1. The true aims of investigation should be explained
2. Details not given during study should be given e.g existence of other groups
3. What their data will be used for
4. Their right to withhold data