ethical guidelines

Question 1

what are ethical issues?

Answer 1

considerations the researcher must account for before, during and after a study

Question 2

right to withdraw

Answer 2

• have the right to withdraw themself of their data from the study at any point during or after the study has been conducted
• if not given this they may feel unnecessary stress so aren’t protected from harm

Question 3

how to deal with this if it’s broken?

Answer 3

• participants should be fully debriefed at the end and told the aim and nature of the study
• at this point they should be given the right to withdraw

Question 4

informed consent

Answer 4

• when someone consents to participate in research, it should be fully informed, so the aims should be made clear before they agree
• without this people may take part in research that goes against their wishes or beliefs

Question 5

how to deal with this if it’s broken?

Answer 5

• presumptive consent = take a random sample and introduce them to the research, if they consent to take part, this consent is generalised
• prior general consent = participants agree to take part before in many psych investigations, so they gave consent for being deceived
• retrospective consent = participants will consent after taking part
• children as participants = gain the written consent of parents of children under 16 to participate

Question 6

privacy

Answer 6

• individuals right to decide how much info about them will be communicated to others
• if a researcher obtains more info from a participant than they want to give this could be an invasion of their privacy

Question 7

how to deal with this if it’s broken?

Answer 7

• participants should be given fully informed consent and the right to withdraw at any stage
• the researcher should explain all the ways their info will be protected and kept confidential

Question 8

confidentiality

Answer 8

• a person’s personal info is protected by law under the Data Protection Act during and after the experiment
• their info or details could be used by others against their wishes

Question 9

how to deal with this if it’s broken?

Answer 9

participants are given a fake name, number or initials to protect their identity and ensure anonymity

Question 10

protection from harm

Answer 10

• psychologists have a responsibility to protect their participants from physical or psychological harm
• the risk of harm must not be higher than they’re exposed to in daily life
• participants should leave the research in the same state they entered

Question 11

how to deal with this if it’s broken?

Answer 11

• participants should be reminded of their right to withdraw
• the experiment should be terminated if the level of harm is higher than expected
• participants should be debriefed at the end and may be referred to counselling in some instances