Ethical issues

Question 1

What are ethics?

Answer 1

Ethics refers to the correct rules of conduct necessary when carrying out research

Question 2

What is informed consent?

Answer 2

An ethical issue and an ethical guideline in psychological research whereby participants must be given comprehensive information concerning the nature and purpose of the research and their role in it, in order for them to make an informed decision about whether to participate.

Question 3

What is deception?

Answer 3

An ethical issue, most usually where a participant is not told the true aims of a study (e.g. What participation will involve) and thus cannot give truly informed consent. Occasionally deception may involve the provision of false information.

Question 4

What is protection from harm?

Answer 4

The duty the researcher has to the particpant to make sure they are not harmed

Question 5

What is confidentiality?

Answer 5

An ethical issue concerned with a participant’s right to have personal information protected.

Question 6

What is privacy?

Answer 6

An ethical issue that refers to a zone of inaccessibility of mind or body and the trust that this will not be “invaded”. Contrasts with confidentiality. Can be dealt with in some situations by providing anonymity.

Question 7

What is right to withdraw?

Answer 7

An ethical issue; participants should have the right to withdraw from participating in a research study if they are uncomfortable with the study.

Question 8

What is debriefing?

Answer 8

A post-research interview designed to inform the participants of the true nature of the study and to restore them to the state they were in at the start of the study.

Question 9

What is presumptive consent?

Answer 9

A method of dealing with lack of informed consent or deception, by asking a group of people who are similar to the participants whether they would agree to take part in a study. If this group of people consents to the procedures in the proposed study, it is presumed that the real participants would agree as well.

Question 10

What is prior general consent?

Answer 10

Prospective participants in a research study are asked if they would take part in certain kinds of research, including ones involving deception. If they say yes they have given their general consent to taking part in such research.

Question 11

What is retrospective consent?

Answer 11

Obtaining permission after a study or event.

Question 12

What is a cost-benefit analysis?

Answer 12

Making a decision by weighing up costs (in terms of time, money, harm) against gains (in terms of value to society).

Question 13

5 ways to overcome informed consent

Answer 13

• Give them a full debrief
• Use presumptive consent
• Allow them to withdrawal their data
• Use retrospective consent
• Use prior general consent

Question 14

2 ways to overcome deception

Answer 14

• Debrief
• Allow them to withdraw their data

Question 15

2 ways to overcome privacy

Answer 15

• Use presumptive consent
• Use prior general consent (not always possible)

Question 16

4 ways to overcome protection from harm

Answer 16

• Debrief
• Offer counselling
• Offer brief before the study
• Remind them they have the right to withdraw their data

Question 17

2 ways to overcome confidentiality

Answer 17

• Do not publish names or any personal detail
• If you need to refer to them use pseudonym (fake name) or initials

Question 18

Why do we use consent forms?

Answer 18

Informed consent requires that participants understand the purpose of the research and what their involvement in the research entails. There must be enough detail for them to make a decision about whether they wish to take part in the study. This is best provided in the form of a consent form.

Question 19

Why do we use consent forms?

Answer 19

Informed consent requires that participants understand the purpose of the research and what their involvement in the research entails. There must be enough detail for them to make a decision about whether they wish to take part in the study. This is best provided in the form of a consent form.

Question 20

Why do we use debrief sheets?

Answer 20

This is an important way of dealing with deception and reminding participants of their other ethical rights.

Question 21

What should you include in a debrief sheet?

Answer 21

• True aim of the study
• An outline of the study should be given.
• Ask the participants if they have any questions
  and if so who they can address these to
• Relevant ethical considerations e.g. remind them
  of their right to withdraw, privacy, confidentiality
  etc.
• Offer someone that they can talk to if their
  distressed
• Thank the participants for taking part
  Note: do not repeat what is said in the stem