Ethics Flashcards
What are ethical issues?
A conflict between participants’ rights and researchers’ needs to gain valuable and meaningful findings.
What is the BPS code of ethics?
A legal document produced by the British Psychological Society (BPS) that instructs psychologists in the UK about what behaviour is and isn’t acceptable when dealing with participants.
What are the four major ethical issues?
- Informed consent
- Deception
- Protection from harm
- Privacy and confidentiality
What is informed consent?
Participants must be given information on the purpose of the research and their role in it so they can make an informed decision about whether to participate.
What is informed consent?
Participants must be given information on the purpose of the research and their role in it so they can make an informed decision about whether to participate.
What is deception?
A participant is not told the true aims of a study and so cannot give truly informed consent
What is protection from harm?
During a study ensuring that participants are not at any more psychological or physical risk than they would be in their daily lives.
What is privacy?
A person’s right to control the flow of information about themselves
What is confidentiality?
Concerns the communication of personal information from one person to another and the trust that the information will be protected
How can you overcome informed consent?
Participants issued with consent letter detailing relevant info. That might affect their decision to participate.
Should be made aware of their right to withdraw
How can you overcome deception?
Debrief- Happens at the end of study. Participants made aware of true aims of study
How can you overcome protection from harm?
Debrief- Happens at the end of study. Participants made aware of true aims of study. Should be reassured that their behaviour was typical or normal and in extreme cases counselling offered.
How can you overcome privacy and confidentiality?
Maintain the anonymity of participants. E.g. referring to participants using numbers or initials.
Reminder during debrief that participants’ data will be protected
