Ethics Flashcards
What principals are the BPS code of conduct based off?
- Respect – privacy, power, individual
- Competence – knowledge of limits, caution making claims
- Responsibility – accountability
- Integrity- honesty, fairness, addressing misconduct
What are BPS practice guidelines?
- Legal framework for psychological work
- Cycle of professional practice
- Reflective practice
- Development, training and leadership
Tell me about the BPS Code of Human Research Ethics
- Introduced 1985
- Principles: respect for the autonomy privacy and dignity of individuals, groups and communities. Participants rather than subjects
- Needs to have scientific integrity
- Need to think of the social impact of it
- Need to maximise the benefits and minimise harm to participants
What are BPS guidelines to be followed at all times (there are 6)
- Ethical approval
– Required for every study - Consent
– Participants should be informed of all objectives whenever possible. All
aspects influencing willingness to participate need to be given. - Deception
– This is unacceptable if participants are typically likely to object/show unease
once debriefed. It is okay to deceive as long as they typically will be okay afterwards and that is a judgement by the ethics team. Participants need to be told what the experiment was about. - Debriefing
– All information for complete understanding of the study is required - Withdrawal
– Right to withdraw at any point without implication - Confidentiality
– Information will be treated confidentially unless discussed beforehand
What is the use in getting ethical approval?
Why get ethical approval?
* It is not a legal requirement.
* Required if you are a member of BPS.
* ESRC (research funder) requires all research in
the university to be approved.
* The university requires it.
Journals require it
What are some key things that an ethics committee consider?
- Is informed consent obtained?
- How are data handled/stored?
- Are participants debriefed?
How do you get informed, valid consent?
Informed Valid Consent:
* Researcher’s name and way to contact them.
* Any risks in taking part
* A statement about data protection.
* A statement that they are free to withdraw.
* Who to contact if they have a complaint.
* The amount of any money or course credit that would be
given for participation.
* How long the research will take.
* A description of what they can expect to happen during the
research.
* Must consider whether consent can be given
– Age, mental capacity, understanding.
How to ensure anonymity and confidentiality
- Anonymous data cannot be traced back to the
individuals.
– Can be stored indefinitely/published.
– Does not fall under GDPR - Confidential data can be traced to an individual
but by a restricted set of people.
– Participant can withdraw their data (usually).
– Falls under GDPR.
– Should be stored for a stated length of time.
– Ideally, should be anonymised at earliest
opportunity.
Tell me about GDPR and the data protection act
- “Data” are secured and used only for agreed purpose.
- All personal data held needs to have a legal basis (inc.
research data):
– Consent
– Public task - Participants need to know who data controller is and the
legal basis. - Special categories:
– racial or ethnic origin; political opinions; religious or
philosophical beliefs; trade union membership; genetic data;
biometric data; health; sex life; sexual orientation.
When to break confidence
- University and legal requirements:
– Child or vulnerable adult is at risk.
– Terrorism prevention. - Consent form may add more:
– The individual’s health or life is at risk.
– Other people’s health or life is at risk. - Consent form should explain when and how
confidence would be broken.
What is the debriefing process?
- Explain what the research was about
- Resolve any deception.
- Return individual to original
emotional/physical state. - Allow participant to ask questions.
- State researchers’ contact details.
- Details of who to go to if there is a complaint.
