Ethics

Question 1

What is an ethical issue?

Answer 1

• A conflict between 2 points of view

Question 2

Why might an ethical issue occur?

Answer 2

• when there is a conflict between the rights of the p’s and the needs of the researchers to conduct research that makes a meaningful contribution to society.

Question 3

What is confidentiality?

Answer 3

-concerns the communication of personal information from one person to another and trust that the info will be protected.

Question 4

Describe confidentiality from the researcher and the p’s point of view.

Answer 4

RESEARCHER
- hard to protect if they wish to publish findings
- may guarantee anonymity but may still be obvious who was involved
PARTICIPANT
- the data protection act makes it a legal right

Question 5

How could you overcome confidentiality and what are the issues with this?

Answer 5

OVERCOME:
- protect personal details
- maintain anonymity, use numbers/ letters
ISSUES
- can still be possible to work out who the p’s were

Question 6

What is deception?

Answer 6

when a participant is not told the true aims of the study and thus cannot give valid consent.

Question 7

Describe deception from a researcher and p’s point of view.

Answer 7

RESEARCHER
- can be necessary so the aim isn’t worked out
- maybe with hold info of the research aim but don’t deliberately provide false info
PARTICIPANT
- prevented from giving valid consent
- may see psychologist as untrustworthy, may not take part in future research

Question 8

how could you overcome deception and what are the issues with this?

Answer 8

OVERCOME
- right to withdraw
- opportunity to discuss any concerns
ISSUES
- debriefing cannot reverse embarrassment
- permission may not be given

Question 9

What is risk of harm

Answer 9

p’s must not experience negative physical/psychological effects

Question 10

describe risk of harm from the researcher and p’s point of view.

Answer 10

RESEARCHER
- studying important topics may involve a degree of risk of harm
- difficult to predict the outcome of certain procedures (milgram)
PARTICIPANT
- acceptable if harm is no greater than the p’s would experience day to day
- must be in the same state after and before

Question 11

How can you overcome risk of harm and what is the issue with this?

Answer 11

OVERCOME
- avoid any risk greater than experienced in daily life
- stop if harm is suspected
ISSUES
- harm may not be apparent at the time

Question 12

What is privacy?

Answer 12

A persons right to control the flow of information about themselves.

Question 13

Describe privacy from the researcher and the p’s point of view.

Answer 13

RESEARCHER
-may be difficult to avoid invasion of privacy when studying p’s without their awareness (field exp)
PARTICIPANT
- people don’t expect to be observed in certain situations

Question 14

How would you overcome the issues of privacy and what are the issues with this?

Answer 14

OVERCOME
- do not study anyone without valid consent unless in a public space/ public behaviour
ISSUES
- no universal agreement about what constitutes a public space/ public behaviour

Question 15

Describe the ethical issue: risk to the p’s values beliefs, relationships, status or privacy
How can this be dealt with?

Answer 15

• psychologists should consider the impact the research may have on the p’s.
• ensuring that the privacy of the p’s is maintained through confidentiality

Question 16

What is valid consent?

Answer 16

• p’s are given information on the nature and purpose of the study and their role in it.
• make an informed decision on whether they want to participate

Question 17

Describe valid consent from the researcher and the p’s point of view.

Answer 17

RESEARCHER
- may cause p’s to guess the aim, changing how they behave
PARTICIPANT
- need to make an informed decision
- basic human right

Question 18

How would you gain valid consent and are there any issues with this?

Answer 18

• consent form
• U16s parental consent
• presumptive consent
• retrospective consent
  -prior general consent
  ISSUES
• full info may invalidate the study
• still may not fully understand
• presumptive consent, presumes you will agree, experiencing may be different

Question 19

Who are the 5 vulnerable populations stated by the BPS.

Answer 19

• children under 16
• patients in care
• learning/communication difficulties
• in custody/probation
  engaging in illegal activity e.g. drug abuse

Question 20

What does the psychologist need to ensure from vulnerable individuals and why?

Answer 20

• valid consent from a parent/guardian of the individual
• due to the fact that they may not understand the reasons so cannot give informed consent.

Question 21

What are researchers asked to do when working with animals?

Answer 21

• consider alternatives to using animals
  e.g. computer simulations
  if using animals is unavoidable there are strict recommendations about:
• species type
• care requirements

Question 22

What is an ethics committee?

Answer 22

• approve any study before it begins
• look at possible ethical issues and how the researcher suggests they will be dealt with
• weighing up the benefits to the possible costs to p’s

Question 23

What are ethical guidelines?

Answer 23

• The rules a researcher should follow to ensure their study is as ethical as possible
• Ethical guidelines could clear the individual researcher of any responsibility as they can say they followed the guidelines so their research is acceptable