Ethics

Question 1

When do ethical issues arise?

Answer 1

Ethical issues arise in psychology when a conflict or dilemma exists between participants’ rights and researchers’ needs to gain valuable and meaningful findings

Question 2

Who are the people in control of psychologists and their ethics?

Answer 2

The British Psychological Society

Question 3

What is informed consent?

Answer 3

Informed consent involves making participants aware of the aims of the research, procedures etc. in order to make informed decisions about taking part in the research

Question 4

If someone is under 16, what needs to be gained prior to their participation?

Answer 4

If someone is under 16, parental consent needs to be gained

Question 5

What is an important feature in protection from harm?

Answer 5

An important feature of protection from harm is participants being reminded of the fact that they the right to withdraw from the investigation at any point

Question 6

What is protection from harm?

Answer 6

Protection from harm refers to the ppts being protected from physical and mental harm, ensuring they enter and leave research in the same physical and mental way

Question 7

What is avoidance of deception?

Answer 7

Participants should not be deceived, unless medical or scientific justification

Question 8

What are the three types of consent that can be acquired?

Answer 8

1. Prior general consent
2. Presumptive consent
3. Retrospective consent

Question 9

What is prior general consent?

Answer 9

Participants give their permission to take part in a number of different studies, including one that will involve deception

Question 10

What is presumptive consent?

Answer 10

Rather than getting consent from the participants themselves, a similar group of people are asked if the study is acceptable. If this group agree, then consent of the original participants is ‘presumed’

Question 11

What is retrospective consent?

Answer 11

Participant are asked for their consent 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 12

What is anonymity/confidentiality?

Answer 12

Data should not be disclosed, so names should be replaced with numbers

Question 12

What is the difference between confidential data and anonymous data?

Answer 12

Confidential data is traceable to participants and anonymous data is untraceable to participants

Question 13

When are debriefs especially important?

Answer 13

Debriefs are especially important when deception is used, to explain the true reasons for research

Question 13

What is briefing/debriefing?

Answer 13

Briefing is revealing relevant information that should be explained before

Debriefing revealing relevant information after the study takes place

Question 14

What is the right to withdraw?

Answer 14

The right to withdraw allows participants to withdraw from the study at any time, even after finishing

Question 15

What are incentives to take part?

Answer 15

Researchers should not offer bribes/promises to make people participate

Question 16

What is an observational research?

Answer 16

A type of research that only takes place outside where people would expect to be observed by strangers

Question 17

In an exam you may be asked to write an appropriate consent form
What do consent forms include

Answer 17

1. The purpose of the study
2. An outline of what will happen during the study
3. Length of time needed to complete the study
4. Inform participants of their right such as their right to withdraw their participation and results
5. Sign off the “letter” with kind regards
6. Leave space to “sign here”
7. If you know who the participants, you should address them at the start of the letter

EG; letter to parents of six year olds - “DEAR PARENTS”