Ethical Issues in Psychological Research

Question 1

Informed Consent

Answer 1

Participants should be briefed with as much information as possible about a study to enable them to make an informed judgement as to whether to take part or not

Question 2

Deception

Answer 2

• Deception should only be used if there is no alternative
• We should see approval from an ethics committee
• Debriefing does not justify deception

Question 3

Debriefing

Answer 3

We must always debrief participants after a study to allow them to ask questions and for the researcher to remind them again of their right to withdraw

Question 4

Right to Withdraw

Answer 4

• We must make participants aware that they are free to leave a study at any time, even if we’ve paid them
• They can also refuse permission to use their data

Question 5

Protection from harm

Answer 5

• Participants’ psychological and physiological safety must be ensured
• We cannot expose them to a greater risk than their normal life experiences

Question 6

Confidentiality

Answer 6

• Information about our participants is protected by the data protection act
• they must not be identifiable in published research