Ethical issues

Question 1

When do ethical issues arise?

Answer 1

They arise when a conflict or dilemma exists between the participants’ rights and the researchers’ needs to gain valuable and meaningful findings.

Question 2

What is the BPS?

Answer 2

British Psychological Society.

Question 3

Why may a researcher not want to reveal the true meaning of the study?

Answer 3

In order to elicit more ‘natural’ behaviours from the participants.

Question 4

What are the four major ethical issues that face researchers in psychological studies?

Answer 4

• Informed consent,
• Deception,
• Protection from harm,
• Privacy and confidentiality.

Question 5

What is informed consent?

Answer 5

Prospective participants are told what the study will consist of so that they are aware what they are getting into before it starts.

Question 6

T / F:

- Although it is an ethical infringement, there are some cases where deception can be justified.

Answer 6

True - when deception does not cause the participant any undue distress and the research is beneficial, then deception can be justified.

Question 7

Which two ethical issues can be seen as mutually exclusive?

Answer 7

Informed consent and deception;
You cannot have deception if the participant has full knowledge of the study, but you also cannot have fully informed consent if there needs to be deception.

Question 8

From a researcher’s POV, why may asking for informed consent make the study meaningless?

Answer 8

Because the participants are aware of the aims of the study and may show demand characteristics because of this.

Question 9

What is meant by confidentiality?

Answer 9

Confidentiality refers to our right, enshrined in law under the Data Protection Act, to have any personal data protected.

Question 10

What is meant by privacy?

Answer 10

Privacy is the right to control information about themselves.

Question 11

What does getting informed consent involve?

Answer 11

Informing the prospective participants about the aims of the study, the procedures, their rights within the study (including right to withdraw), and also what their data will be used for.
They will then make an informed decision whether to take part in the study.

Question 12

What is meant by deception?

Answer 12

Deception means deliberately misleading or withholding information from participants at any stage of the investigation.

Question 13

T / F:
- The right to privacy extends to the area where the study took place such that institutions or geographical locations are not named.

Answer 13

True - although this is not always enforced (Stanford Prison Experiment).

Question 14

Why is deception a problem for gaining informed consent?

Answer 14

Because if the study requires deception, then it is impossible to get fully informed consent as some information has to be withheld otherwise deception cannot happen. Essentially they are mutually exclusive.

Question 15

Many social influence experiments such as Asch’s and Milgram’s studies did not use informed consent, explain why:

Answer 15

Because if the participants were wiser to the fact the shocks weren’t real or that the other participants were confederates then the whole premise of the experiment would be diminished.

Question 16

Explain the principle of protection from harm?

Answer 16

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

Question 17

The idea of protecting participants from physical and psychological harm also includes what?

Answer 17

Being made to feel embarrassed, inadequate or being placed under stress or pressure.

Question 18

Which professional body has a code of ethics which includes a set of ethical guidelines?

Answer 18

The British Psychological Society, (BPS).

Question 19

What should happen if an investigation involves a child under the age of 16?

Answer 19

A signature of parental consent is required.

Question 20

How is informed consent gained?

Answer 20

Participants should be issued with a consent letter or form detailing all relevant information that might affect their decision to participate. The participant then agrees and signs the form.

Question 21

Apart from informed consent, what are the alternative ways of gaining consent?

Answer 21

• Presumptive consent,
• Prior-general consent,
• Retrospective consent.

Question 22

What is presumptive consent?

Answer 22

Rather than getting consent from the participants themselves, a similar group of people are asked if the study is acceptable. If the group agree, then consent of the original participants is ‘presumed’.

Question 23

What is prior-general consent?

Answer 23

Participants give their permission to take part in a number of different studies - including one that will involve deception. By consenting, they are effectively consenting to be deceived.

Question 24

What is retrospective consent?

Answer 24

Participants are asked for their consent (during debriefing) having already taken part in the study. They may not have been aware of their participation or they may have been subject to deception.

Question 25

What would happen if a BPS code of conduct is breached?

Answer 25

They would not go to prison, but they would likely lose their job.

Question 26

What approach is undertaken by the ethics committee when deciding whether particular research proposals are ethically acceptable?

Answer 26

They use a cost-benefit approach to way up the positives and negatives of the study.

Question 27

What should happen at the end of a study?

Answer 27

The participants should be given a full debrief, within this they should be made aware of the true aims of the study and any details they were not supplied with during the study.
Also what their data will be used for and given the right to withdraw their data.

Question 28

Participants may (naturally) have concerns that their behaviours were unnatural during the study, how should the researcher deal with this?

Answer 28

During the debrief, the researcher should reassure them that their behaviour was typical or normal.

Question 29

In an extreme case, if participants have been subjected to stress or embarrassment, what may they require?

Answer 29

Counselling, which the researcher may provide.

Question 30

What is the most simplistic way to maintain anonymity?

Answer 30

It is to simply record no personal details.

Question 31

For which way of gaining consent is the right to withhold data especially important?

Answer 31

Retrospective consent, this is because consent is not gained prior to the study and therefore if the ptps don’t wish to participate then they couldn’t choose to opt out before.

Question 32

When it is impossible to record no personal details how do researchers maintain anonymity?

Answer 32

They sometimes refer to participants through numbers or initials when writing up the investigation.

Question 33

In a case study, how do psychologists attempt to increase anonymity?

Answer 33

Psychologists also use initials when describing the individual or those involved.

Question 34

In an extreme case, if participants have been subjected to stress or embarrassment, they may require counselling, how is this given?

Answer 34

The researcher should provide it or arrange it themselves.

Question 35

What should be included in a debriefing?

Answer 35

They should be made aware of the true aims of the study and any details they were not supplied with during the study.

Question 36

When ethical issues arise, what should be considered?

Answer 36

“Do the ends justify the means?” (is it worth it)

Question 37

Why did the BPS create ethical guidelines?

Answer 37

To help ensure psychologists are carrying out their research ethically.

Question 38

When do ethical issues arise?

Answer 38

When there is a conflict between gaining valuable research and preserving the rights and dignity of participants.

Question 39

How can the researcher make sure their interpretation and application of findings is ethical?

Answer 39

The researcher needs to consider how their findings might be interpreted and applied in the real-world, are there any risks such as discrimination and prejudice as a result?

Question 40

What are ethical implications?

Answer 40

The impact that research has on society, how it influences public policies and / or the way in which certain groups of people are seen.

Question 41

If a psychologists research is funded by a private institution or organisation such as big tobacco companies, what should they consider?

Answer 41

Why are they funding the research and how do they intend to use the findings?

Question 42

Who created the main ethical guidelines?

Answer 42

The British Psychological Society (BPS).

Question 43

Why are ethical guidelines a thing?

Answer 43

To protect participants from psychological and physical harm or loss of self-esteem.

Question 44

How can the researcher make sure their methodology is ethical?

Answer 44

By considering the treatment of participants and their right to confidentiality and anonymity (and right to withdraw etc.).

Question 45

How can the researcher make sure their institutional context is ethical?

Answer 45

They should be mindful of how the data is going to be used and consider who is funding the research. (big tobacco etc.)