ethical issues and ways of dealing with them

Question 1

ethical issues definition

Answer 1

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

Question 2

what are the four ethical concerns

Answer 2

informed consent
deception
protection from harm
privacy and confidentiality

Question 3

informed consent

Answer 3

prospective participants should know what they are getting into before they agree. informed consent is making participants aware of the aims of the research, the procedures and their rights (including right to withdraw) and also what their data will be used for
-from a researchers point of view asking for informed consent may make study meaningless as participants behaviour will not be natural as aims of study are knowen

Question 4

deception

Answer 4

deliberately misleading or withholding information from participants at any stage of the investigation
there are occasions where deception can be justified as it does not cause participant undue distress

Question 5

protection from harm

Answer 5

as a result of their involvement, participants should not be placed under any more risk than they would be in their daily lives, and should be protected from physical and psychological harm. an important feature of this being reminded that they have right to withdraw

Question 6

privacy and confidentiality

Answer 6

participants have the right to control information about themselves, this is the right of privacy. confidentiality refers to our right, enshrined in law under data protection act to have any personal data protected
-this extends to where the study took place so institutions or locations are not named

Question 7

British psychological society code of ethics

Answer 7

set of ethical guidelines which researchers have professional duty to observe when conducting research

Question 8

who are BPS code of ethics implemented by

Answer 8

ethics committees

Question 9

what approach do ethics committee use

Answer 9

a cost benefit approach

Question 10

dealing with informed consent

Answer 10

participants should be issued with a consent letter detailing relevant info which may affect decision to participate, this is then signed

Question 11

informed consent for children under 16

Answer 11

a signature of parental consent is requires

Question 12

alternative ways of getting consent

Answer 12

-presumptive consent
-prior general consent
-retrospective consent

Question 13

presumptive consent

Answer 13

rather than getting consent from the participants themselves, a similar group of people are asked if the study is acceptable. If this group agrees than consent of original participants is presumed

Question 14

prior general consent

Answer 14

participants give their permission to take part in a number of different studies - including one that will involve deception, by consenting participants are effectivey consenting to be deceived

Question 15

retrospective consent

Answer 15

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 16

dealing with deception and protection from harm - debrief

Answer 16

at the end of a study, participants should be given a full debrief. Within this participants should be made aware of the true aims of the investigation and details not supplied during the study.

Question 17

dealing with deception and protection from harm - data

Answer 17

participants should also be told what their data will be used for and must be given right to withhold data. this is particularly important if retrospective consent is a feature of the study.

Question 18

dealing with deception and protection from harm - counselling

Answer 18

participants may have natural concerns related to their performance within the investigation, and so should be reassured that their behavior was typical and normal. In extreme cases if participants have been subject to distress or embarrassment, they may require counselling which the researcher should provide

Question 19

dealing with confidentiality

Answer 19

if participant details are held, these must be protected. However, it is more common to record no personal details and maintain anonymity. participants should be refered to using numbers or initials. participants should be reminded during briefing and debriefing that their data will be protected and not shared with other researchers