ethics

Question 1

What does BPS stand for?

Answer 1

British Psychological Society

Question 2

What does the BPS do?

Answer 2

They set ethical guidelines which all research much meet

Question 3

What is the definition of informed consent?

Answer 3

When participants know the aim of the study and still agree to participate

Question 4

When is not obtaining informed consent a problem?

Answer 4

• participants being deceived & not knowing what they are taking part in
• children are too young to understand and cannot fully give informed consent

Question 5

How can we issues with informed consent be addressed?

Answer 5

• remove deception
• only deceive if necessary to the experiment
• inform the participants of the true aim
• ask parental consent (for children)
• conduct in a public place

Question 6

What is the definition of consent?

Answer 6

Agreeing to participate without knowing the aim of the study

Question 7

What is the difference between informed consent and consent?

Answer 7

Only can give informed consent when you know the aim of the study before you take part in the study.

Question 8

What is the definition of confidentiality?

Answer 8

When participants are kept anonymous and this is kept in place at all times

Question 9

Why is lack of confidentiality a problem?

Answer 9

It may cause distress and embarrassment if people can identify them by their data

Question 10

How can lack of confidentiality be addressed?

Answer 10

• keep all data secret and secure
• conduct research by the Data Protection Act
• do not collect personal information
• use codenames or numbers (keep anonymous)

Question 11

How is confidentiality applied to data?

Answer 11

Data must conform to the Data Protection Act

Question 12

What is the definition of a debrief?

Answer 12

Where any deception is explained such as the aim of the study and identity of the researcher

Question 13

What are issues when there is a lack of a debrief?

Answer 13

The study may cause long lasting psychological harm making the participants distressed and not want to be included in the study

Question 14

How can a debrief be administered?

Answer 14

Explaining at the end of the study the purpose and allowing participants to voice any issues and provide a contact number should they want to invoke their right to withdraw data

Question 15

When is a debrief administered?

Answer 15

At the end of the research

Question 16

What is the definition of the right to withdraw?

Answer 16

When if participants wish to leave at any point during the experiment they can and this can also be applied to their data years later if they wish

Question 17

Why is taking away the right to withdraw an issue?

Answer 17

Participants feel obligated to continue and may do things they do not want to (therefore affecting the validity of the results)

Question 18

How can issues with the right to withdraw be addressed?

Answer 18

By explaining before the study that they can leave at any time without consequence alongside the fact that they can remove their data (this should be reminded throughout the study and a final reminder in the debrief)

Question 19

What is the definition of deception?

Answer 19

Lying to the participants about any aspects of the experiment - any deception must be justified to the BPS

Question 20

Why is decepetion harmful?

Answer 20

• causes distress
• cannot give informed consent
• cannot fully withdraw

Question 21

What are the types of protection from harm?

Answer 21

Physical & psychological

Question 22

What is the definition of protection from harm?

Answer 22

When researchers are fully responsible for participants physical and psychological wellbeing - they must also consider long term effects of the research

Question 23

What are issues when protection from harm is ignored?

Answer 23

It is extremely unethical to cause psychological harm (embarrassment) and causing physical harm is a violation of human rights

Question 24

How can protection from harm be enforced?

Answer 24

• making the tasks no more harmful than an everyday life situation
• assess for possible risk factors prior to the study
• keep data confidential

Question 25

What ethical issues are related to respect?

Answer 25

Informed consent, confidentiality, and the right to withdraw

Question 26

What ethical issues are related to responsibility?

Answer 26

Debriefing and protection from harm

Question 27

What ethical issue is related to integrity?

Answer 27

Deception