Ethical issues and ways of dealing with them

Question 1

ethical issues definition

Answer 1

these arise when a conflict exists between the rights of participants in research studies and the goals of research to produce authentic, valid and worthwhile data

Question 2

Informed consent

Answer 2

• making participants aware of the aims of the research, the procedures, their rights and also what their data will be used for.
• participants would then make an informed judgement whether or not to take part without being coerced or feeling obliged.

Question 3

Deception

Answer 3

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

Question 4

Protection from harm

Answer 4

participants should not be placed at any more risk than they would be in their daily lives, and should be protected from physical and psychological harm.
- have the right to withdraw from the investigation at any point

Question 5

Privacy and Confidentiality

Answer 5

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

Question 6

BPS code of conduct

Answer 6

• way of dealing with ethical issues

- has its own BPS code of ethics

Question 7

Dealing with informal consent

Answer 7

participants should be issued with a consent letter or form detailing all relevant information that might affect their decision to participate.

Question 8

Dealing with deception and protection from harm: debriefing

Answer 8

• at end of study, participants should be given a full debrief
• made aware of true aims of the investigation and any details they were not supplied with during the study, such as the existence of other groups or experimental conditions
• told what their data will be used for and must be given the right to withhold data if they wish

Question 9

Dealing with confidentiality

Answer 9

• personal details must be protected

- anonymity