Ethical Issues & How to Deal With Them

Question 1

What are ethical issues?

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

What is the BPS code of ethics?

Answer 2

It is a quasi-legal (like a lawful) document produced by the British Psychological Society (BPS) that instructs psychologists in the UK about what behaviour is and is not acceptable when dealing with participants. It is built around four major principles: respect, competence, responsibility and integrity.

Question 3

What does DRIPP stand for?

Answer 3

Deception
Right to withdraw
Informed consent
Privacy and confidentiality
Protection from harm

Question 4

What is Deception?

Answer 4

It is when information is deliberately withheld from participants or they are knowingly misled.

Question 5

Why is deception unethical if broken?

Answer 5

It prevents participants from giving fully informed consent which means that they might be taking part in research that goes against their views or beliefs.

Question 6

How do you deal with the issue of deception?

Answer 6

Full Debrief, Right to withdraw from study, and contact details gicen

Question 7

What is the right to withdraw?

Answer 7

Participants have the right to withdraw (remove themselves or
their data from the study) at any stage. This includes after the research has been conducted, in which case the researcher must destroy any data or information collected.

Question 8

Why is right to withdraw unethical if not done?

Answer 8

Participants who are not given the right to withdraw may feel unnecessary or undue stress and therefore not protected from harm.

Question 9

How do you deal with the issue of right to withdraw

Answer 9

Fully debriefed, right to withdraw the publication of their results, and contact details given

Question 10

What is informed consent?

Answer 10

When someone consents to participate in research, their consent must be fully informed which means the aims of the research should be made clear before they agree to participate.

Question 11

Why is informed consent unethical if broken?

Answer 11

Lack of informed consent may mean the participants is taking part in research that goes against their wishes or beliefs.

It is possible that the participant may have felt obliged to take part or even coerced into it, especially if they are not fully informed.

Question 12

What are the four types of consent (in relation to informed consent)

Answer 12

Presumptive consent
Prior general consent
Retrospective consent
Children as participants

Question 13

What is the definition of Presumptive consent

Answer 13

It is when it is gained from people of a similar background to participants in a study. If they state they would have been willing to take part, then it is deemed that the actual p’s would too.

Question 14

What is the definition of Prior General consent?

Answer 14

It is when participants agree to be deceived without knowing
how they will be deceived.

Question 15

What is the definition for retrospective consent?

Answer 15

It is when you ask participants for consent after they have participated.

Question 16

What the definition for children as participants (consent)?

Answer 16

It is when parental consent needs to be gained inwriting for children under the age of 16 to participate in any psychological research.

Question 17

What is the definition of privacy?

Answer 17

It is the right of individuals to decide how information about
them will be communicated to others.

Question 18

Why is privacy unethical if its broken

Answer 18

A skilled researcher may obtain more information from a participant than they wish to give which could be an invasion of their privacy and the participant may feel ashamed or embarrassed.

Question 19

How do you deal with the issue of privacy

Answer 19

Fully informed consent, if not results and info must be destroyed immediately, and at end of investigation all info is destroyed.

Question 20

What is the definition for confidentiality

Answer 20

Confidentiality is where a participants personal information is protected by law under the Data Protection Act both during and after the experiment.

Question 21

What is confidentially unethical if broken

Answer 21

A person’s details or data may be used by other parties against
the participants wishes.

Question 22

How to deal with the issue of confidentiality?

Answer 22

Provided fake names and all info destroyed

Question 23

What is the definition for protection from harm?

Answer 23

Psychologists have the responsibility to protect their participants from physical or psychological harm, including stress or embarrassment.

The risk of harm must be no greater than that which they are exposed to in everyday life.

Question 24

Why is protection from harm unethical if broken?

Answer 24

If they are harmed they may leave the experiment with long lasting effects, and they should leave the experiment in the same condition in which they entered.

Question 25

How to deal with the issue of protection from harm?

Answer 25

Reminder of right to withdraw, should terminate experiment if the level of psychological or physical harm is higher than expected, and then they should debrief and offer counselling

Question 26

What is in a consent form

Answer 26

Instructions of what they are required to do

Told some or all of the aims of the research

Told the duration of the study

An area for them to sign and date

Question 27

What is in a debrief form

Answer 27

Thanked for taking part in the study

The true aims are revealed

Participants are offered counselling services if they feel psychologically
impacted by the study

Participants are reminded that they can withdraw their data at any point.

Provided the researchers contact details