Ethical Considerstions

Question 1

BPS guideline: confidentiality (issues and solution)

Answer 1

issue: it’s difficult to keep confidentiality if want to publish findings
solution: Ps data must be kept confidentially using numbers not names. Observations only done in situations where people expect to be seen

Question 2

BPS guidelines: deception (issues and solutions)

Answer 2

issue: Ps could be deceived of the aims and its sometimes impossible to tell Ps the hypothesis as this would result in demand characteristics
solution: presumptive consent should be obtained (ask similar group of Ps if they’d give consent) and Ps must be told of deception immediately after and given the RTW their data

Question 3

BPS guidelines: risk of stress/harm (issues and solutions)

Answer 3

issue: difficult to predict
solution: stop study / debrief / RTW

Question 4

BPS guidelines: RTW (issues and solutions)

Answer 4

issue: Ps may think if they’ve chosen to consent they can’t stop. If they don’t know they’re in research they don’t know they can withdraw
solutions: inform of RTW during briefing and keep Ps confidential

Question 5

BPS guidelines: risk to Ps values, relationships or privacy (issues and solutions)

Answer 5

issue: risking any of the above eg observations without consent
solution: eg only observe areas where is expected

Question 6

BPS guidelines: valid consent (issues and solutions)

Answer 6

issue: revealing true aims could lead to demand characteristics
solution: presumptive consent, debrief, RTW

Question 7

BPS guidelines: working with the vulnerable (issues and solutions)

Answer 7

issue: valid consent
solution: get consent from parent/carer, RTW, stop study, check with ethics committee

Question 8

BPS guidelines: working with animals (issues and solutions)

Answer 8

issues: ability to apply to humans can be questioned
solutions: 3Rs, check with ethics committee

Question 9

What are the 3Rs?

Answer 9

REPLACEMENT: methods which avoid or replace use of animals
REDUCTION: methods which minimise the number of animals used per experiment
REFINEMENT: methods which minimise suffering and improve animal welfare

Question 10

What is debriefing?

Answer 10

Telling Ps the purpose of research and explaining why deception was used. Ensures Ps have not suffered any harm during experiment

Question 11

What is cost benefit analysis?

Answer 11

Where research weighs up the cost of the study against the benefit to society. If benefit outweighs cost, it may be deemed ethical

Question 12

Ethical guidelines that must be followed when working with animals

Answer 12

• follow legislation
• use minimum possible
• ensure any research does not cause unnecessary death, illness or had, to the animal
• use of only captive bred animals where possible
• humane and good care of animal before, during and after study