Ethical Issues

Question 1

What is informed consent?

Answer 1

Involves making participants aware of the aims of the research, the procedures, their rights- including the right to withdraw from the investigation and what their data will be used for

Question 2

What is deception?

Answer 2

Deliberately misleading/withholding information from the participants
Participants who have not received the correct information about the investigation cannot give informed consent
Deception can be justified if it doesn’t cause the participant distress

Question 3

What is protection from harm?

Answer 3

Participants should not be placed at any more risk than they would be in their daily lives
Should be protected from physical and psychological harm

Question 4

What is privacy and confidentiality?

Answer 4

Ppts have the right to control information about themselves- the right of privacy

Question 5

What guidelines do researchers have to follow?

Answer 5

The BPS code of ethics

Question 6

Dealing with informed consent?

Answer 6

Ppts should be issued with a consent letter/form which shows all relevant information that may affect their decision to participate

Question 7

What is required for investigations including under 16 year olds?

Answer 7

Signature of parental consent

Question 8

Dealing with deception and protection from harm?

Answer 8

At the end of a study, Ppts should be given a full debrief

Ppts should be made aware of the true aims of the investigation and any details they were not supplied with during the study
If they require counselling, the researcher should provide that

Question 9

Dealing with confidentiality?

Answer 9

Personal details must be protected
Ppts are reminded that their data will be protected throughout the process and told that their data will not be shared with other researchers

Question 10

What is a pilot study?

Answer 10

A small-scale version of an investigation that takes place before the real investigation is conducted
Checks that procedures, materials work
Allows the researcher to make changes if necessary

Question 11

What is a single-blind procedure?

Answer 11

Any information that might create expectations is not revealed until the end of the study to control for the confounding effects of demand characteristics

Question 12

What is a double blind procedure?

Answer 12

Neither the Ppts or the researcher is aware of the aims of the investigation

Question 13

What trials are double blind procedures usually used in?

Answer 13

Drug trials