Booklet 6: Ethics

Question 1

Definition of Ethics

Answer 1

The science of morals or rules of behaviour

Question 2

What are the 4 Ethical Principles

Answer 2

1. Respect
2. Competence
3. Responsibility
4. Integrity

Question 3

What are the 6 Ethical Guidelines

Answer 3

1. Informed Consent
2. Right to Withdraw
3. Privacy and Confidentiality
4. Protection of Participants
5. Deception
6. Debriefing

Question 4

What is Respect

Answer 4

Psychologists should respect individual, cultural and role differences and should avoid practices that are unfair or prejudiced

Question 5

What Ethical Guidelines fall under Respect

Answer 5

• Informed Consent
• Privacy and Confidentiality
• Right to Withdraw

Question 6

What is Competence

Answer 6

Psychologists value the continuing development and maintenance of high standards of competence in their professional work and the importance of preserving their ability to function optimally within the recognised limits of their knowledge, skill, training, education and experience

Question 7

What Ethical Guidelines fall under Competence

Answer 7

All of the guidelines

Question 8

What is Responsibility

Answer 8

Responsibilities to the general public and to the profession and science of Psychology including the avoidance of harm

Question 9

What Ethical Guidelines fall under Responsibility

Answer 9

• Protection of Participants
• Debriefing

Question 10

What is Integrity

Answer 10

Valuing honesty, accuracy, clarity, and fairness

Question 11

What Ethical Guidelines fall under Integrity

Answer 11

Deception

Question 12

What is Informed Consent

Answer 12

P’s should be told the nature, purpose, and anticipated consequences of any research participation and this should be gained at the beginning of research

Question 13

What is Right to Withdraw

Answer 13

Investigators should make clear to participants their right to withdraw from the investigation at any time and they have the right to demand their own data and recordings to be destroyed

Question 14

What is Privacy and Confidentiality

Answer 14

P’s privacy should be respected and during observational research you should only expect to be observed in a public place. Names or details of p’s should not be released

Question 15

What is Protection of Participants

Answer 15

Researchers must not cause any physical or psychological harm to p’s. They should leave a study in the same state that they entered

Question 16

What is Deception

Answer 16

Lying to p’s, misleading them about the aims or other aspects must be avoided as much as possible

Question 17

What is Debriefing

Answer 17

Done at the end of the study. Researchers should explain the true purpose of the study and check that p’s have not suffered any physical or psychological harm

Question 18

What are the Costs of breaking Ethical Guidelines

Answer 18

• POINT - Destroys the reputation and integrity if psychological research and psychology as a whole
• COMMENT - This is a weakness as it results in less research being approved which limits the usefulness of psychological research
• POINT - Reduces the likeliness of future funding/future p’s
• COMMENT - This is a weakness as not as much research will be conducted which will limit our knowledge of complex psychological behaviour

Question 19

What are the Benefits of breaking Ethical Guidelines

Answer 19

• POINT - Increases our knowledge of complex unethical behaviours such as certain disorders
• COMMENT - This is a strength as it increases our knowledge so increases usefulness
• POINT - Reduces risk of demand characteristics
• COMMENT - This is a strength as results are more valid and credible

Question 20

Structure for Exam Q:
“Identify one ethical consideration in… and explain how you would address it”

Answer 20

• State the guideline that is broken
• Explain how this is broken (context)
• Outline how you will address it in detail (link back to context)

Question 21

Structure for Exam Q:
“Outline one way the study can be considered ethical/unethical”

Answer 21

• Outline a guideline that has been broken OR followed and explain
• Link to the scenario with examples, explain this guideline again in the context of the study
• Explain why this is ethical or unethical (link to a principle and wider implications)

Question 22

Structure for Exam Question:
“Discuss the strength/weakness of breaking ethical guidelines in this study”

Answer 22

• Point - A strength/weakness of breaking a guideline (name the guideline and link to an issue)
• Example - Link to the scenario with examples, explain your point again with context
• Comment - Explain the wider implications of this strength/weakness (debate/principles etc)