ethical issues Flashcards
what are the 5 ethical issues?
- valid consent
- deception
- risk of harm
- confidentiality
- risk to the participants values, beliefs, relationships, status or privacy.
valid consent definition?
providing information to participant on aims, procedures and purpose of experiment, and all their rights so participant can agree or not to take part. If deception is necessary fully informed consent is not possible.
how to prevent issues with valid consent?
participants asked to formally indicate their agreement to participate (sign a document) However, this could lead them to the purpose of the research which could lower validity of the results. Also if full consent is given it doesn’t guarantee participants fully understand what is involved
deception definition?
withholding information or misleading participants in order to get unbiased data, this prevents informed consent.
how to prevent deception?
need to weigh up the benefits of the study against the cost if you’re going to deceive the participants. Participants should be fully debriefed after the study and the true nature revealed. However, debriefing doesn’t turn the clocks back and participants may still feel affected by the research.
risk of harm definition?
should minimise the psychological and physical effects of taking part in research. Participants should leave the study in the same psychological and physical state they entered in.
how to prevent risk of harm?
researchers to avoid any risks greater than experienced in everyday life. study should be stopped if any harm is suspected. researchers should also ensure their participants know that they have the right to withdraw. However, harm may not be apparent at the time and once judged later
confidentiality definition?
may be difficult to protect the confidentiality of research as the researcher will want to publish the results. Even though they may not use participants names sometimes its obvious who is involved,
how to prevent issues with confidentiality?
researcher should not record any names instead use false names or numbers. However, still possible to work out who the participants are given the information
risk of participants values, beliefs, relationships, status or privacy definition?
psychologists must also consider a broader range of impacts that the research may have on their participant . Researchers have to make provision to ensure that participants attitudes and values are not demeaned or that their association with others are not damaged by their participation.
how to prevent risk to the participants’ values, beliefs, relationships, status or privacy?
ensuring privacy of the research participant is maintained through adequate confidentiality agreements. However, ,maybe difficult to avoid invasion of privacy when studying participants without their awareness.
what is considered venerable individuals?
- children under 16
- learning difficulties
- patients in care
- people in custody
- people engaged in illegal activities
working with vulnerable individuals?
valid consent needs to be obtained from the person legally responsible for the individual (parent or guardian)
research on animals can only go ahead if =
- species isn’t endangered
- suitable for the research
- avoid unnecessary deaths, harm or illness
- minimum amount of animals used
only captive bred animals - care for animals must be used before and after research.
