Ethics Flashcards
What is the role of the British Psychological Society (BPS) Code of Ethics?
To ensure ethical integrity in psychological research by setting professional guidelines covering respect competence responsibility and integrity.
What are ethical issues in psychological research?
Concerns about participant welfare including informed consent deception protection from harm privacy confidentiality and the right to withdraw.
What is informed consent?
Participants must be given comprehensive information about the study including its aims procedures and potential risks so they can make an informed decision to participate.
How can researchers deal with the issue of informed consent?
By obtaining signed consent forms providing detailed information or using presumptive consent where a similar group agrees the study is ethical.
What is deception in psychological research?
When participants are misled or not fully informed about the true aims of the study which may impact their ability to give fully informed consent.
How can researchers deal with deception ethically?
By conducting a thorough debrief explaining the true aims of the study and allowing participants to withdraw their data if they wish.
What does protection from harm mean in research?
Participants must not experience physical or psychological harm beyond what they would encounter in everyday life.
How can researchers ensure protection from harm?
By conducting risk assessments stopping the study if distress occurs and offering post-study support such as counselling.
What is the right to withdraw?
Participants must be informed that they can leave the study at any time and withdraw their data without penalty.
How can researchers ensure participants can withdraw?
By informing them of their right to withdraw before during and after the study and not pressuring them to continue.
What is confidentiality in psychological research?
Ensuring participants’ personal data and responses remain private and are not disclosed without consent.
How can researchers maintain confidentiality?
By using pseudonyms anonymising data and securely storing personal information.
What is privacy in psychological research?
The right of participants to control the extent to which they share personal information.
How can researchers protect participants’ privacy?
By avoiding intrusive questions conducting research in appropriate settings and obtaining consent for any sensitive topics.
How does ethical approval work in psychological research?
Ethical committees review research proposals to ensure adherence to ethical guidelines before granting approval.
What is a cost-benefit analysis in ethics?
A method used by ethics committees to weigh potential benefits of research against potential ethical costs to participants.
Why is debriefing important in psychological research?
To ensure participants understand the study’s true nature address any distress and reinforce their right to withdraw their data.
How can researchers address ethical issues overall?
By following BPS guidelines obtaining ethical approval gaining informed consent minimising harm ensuring confidentiality and providing debriefing.
