ethics Flashcards
describe informed consent
participants must be given comprehensive info about nature and purpose of research so they can give fully informed consent to take part in study
outline how to deal with informed consent (3)
● participants issued with consent letter / form detailing all relevant info that might affect their decision to participate
● researchers can gain retrospective consent from participants during debrief, or presumptive consent from similar group
● investigations of children under 16 - signature of parental consent is required
describe deception (2)
● researcher must avoid misleading participant (lying, withholding information)
● often they may be misled about aim of study to avoid them changing behaviour
outline how to deal with deception (2)
● during debrief the participants should be told how and why they were deceived during study
● e.g. participants should be told about existence of other experimental conditions
describe right to withdraw
participants have right to leave study at any time if they feel uncomfortable / distressed
outline how to deal with the right to withdraw
participants should be give right to withdraw at any point and right to withdraw their data
describe protection from harm
researcher must ensure all participants are protected from physical and psychological harm experienced in study (such as embarrassment)
outline how to deal with protection from harm (3)
● participants able to withdraw from study if it’s too distressing
● participants should be reassured that their behaviour was typical for study
● in extreme cases may require counselling, which researcher should provide
describe privacy & confidentiality (2)
● researcher must not disclose any personal information of their participants
● participant must be kept anonymous
outline how to deal with privacy & confidentiality (3)
● no personal information from participants used when writing up investigation
● researchers tend to use numbers / initials instead of names
● participants should be reminded during debrief that their data will be protected
what is the cost benefit analysis? (3)
● BPS(british psychological society) code of ethics weigh up costs and benefits of research proposals to decide whether study may go ahead
● benefits - ground-breaking nature of research
● cost - damaging effect on individual participant or to reputation of psychology as a whole
