Ethical issues

Question 1

Who comes up with the guidelines concerning ethical issues?

Answer 1

British Psychological Society, BPS

Question 2

What are the 5 guidelines they insist researchers consider?

Answer 2

Informed consent, deception, protection from harm, debriefing and confidentiality

Question 3

What is informed consent?

Answer 3

Participants should always give informed consent.
They should be told aims and nature of study.
They should know they have the right to withdraw

Question 4

What happens if a u16 year old wants to take part in research?

Answer 4

As it is not legal for them to give consent a parent must do so

Question 5

Why is it acceptable that in a naturalistic observation consent is not needed?

Answer 5

It is acceptable as long as the research takes place in a public place where people would be expected to be observed

Question 6

What and who found the problem of research even when consent is given?

Answer 6

Menges (1971) investigated 1000 American cases and found that 97% of people had not being given the full details of the study they were taking part in.

Question 7

What is the ethical concern with deception?

Answer 7

If participants have been deceived then they can not give informed consent.

Question 8

Why might it be ok to deceive someone?

Answer 8

Sometimes investigators must withhold information about the study so that participants behave naturally. There must be strong scientific justification.
If independent people say they would not object
If general details are given

Question 9

What is protection from harm?

Answer 9

The BPS say that the investigation should propose no greater risk than what every day life would

Question 10

Name an experiment where participants were not protected from harm.

Answer 10

Milgram- where the participants were electric shocked- this caused distress

Question 11

In what every day environment would protection from harm not apply to?

Answer 11

A soldiers life as although they are exposed to danger in real life they should not be exposed to danger in research

Question 12

What is a weakness of protection from harm?

Answer 12

Researchers don’t always know what may be distressing for participants

Question 13

What is debriefing?

Answer 13

The idea that participants should return to the state they were in before the research. This is important when deception is involved.

Question 14

What must researchers do when it comes to debriefing?

Answer 14

Inform the participant of the research involved and what the results may show

Question 15

What are participants always given the right to do when it comes to debriefing?

Answer 15

To withdraw their data

Question 16

What is confidentiality?

Answer 16

The fact that none of the participants in a study should be identifiable from any reports that are produced. Names should not be used in reports.

Question 17

What is a problem even if a study is a confidential?

Answer 17

Some groups and people can be easily identified from their characteristics e.g. when and where the study took place

Question 18

Why is animal research a positive?

Answer 18

It provides valuable info for psychological and medical research

Question 19

Name an experiment where animals were necessary?

Answer 19

Harlow’s study for attachment where young monkeys were split from their mother and reared alone

Question 20

Why are people against animal testing?

Answer 20

It is wrong to inflict harm on animals and as they have a similar intelligence to humans they may suffer the same problems we do and animals can’t give consent

Question 21

What are the problems with ethical guidelines?

Answer 21

Some researchers may not follow them.
Psychologists can’t be banned from research if they act unacceptable
It is difficult to assess the amount of harm or reason for deception
Deciding whether the ends justify the means is difficult.