ethics Flashcards
BPS code of ethics
BPS instructs psychologists in the UK about what behaviour and is not acceptable when dealing with participants. It is build around four major principles: respect, competence, responsibility and integrity
Informed consent
involves making participants aware of the aims of the research, procedures, their right to withdraw
- independent informed judgement without coercion
ways of dealing with informed consent
- participants issued with a consent letter form detailing all relevant information that may affect decision to participate
- under 16, parental consent
- presumptive, prior general, retrospective consent
Deception
Means deliberately misleading or withholding information from participants. Linked to lack of informed consent, not given adequate information when agreed to take part in
Ways of dealing with deception
presumptive consent, prior general consent , retrospective consent
Protection from harm
Participants should not be at any more risk than they would be in their daily lives, should be protected from physical and psychological harm, right to withdraw
- includes feeling embarrassed, inadequate or placed under stress
Ways of dealing with protection from harm
- debriefing at the end of the study, made aware of the true aims of the study and any details not supplied
- right to withhold data
- should be reassured their behaviour was normal, may require counselling
Privacy and confidentiality
Participants have the right to control information about themselves - right to privacy
-if privacy invaded, confidentiality should be kept protected
Dealing with privacy and confidentiality
if personal details are held these must be protected or kept anonymous e.g. referred to by number
Ethical issues
- informed consent
- deception
- privacy and confidentiality
- protection from harm
- right to withdraw
What is presumptive consent?
a similar group of people are asked if the study is acceptable, if this group agree the consent of the original participants is assumed
What is prior general consent?
Participants give their permission to take part in a number of different studies - including one that will involve deception. By consenting, participants are effectively consenting to being deceived
What is retrospective consent?
Participants are asked for their consent during debriefing, having already taken part in the study. They may not have been aware of their participation or they may have been subject to deception
What to include in a consent form
- aims, procedure, what will be done with the results, ethics (confidentiality, debrief, right to withdraw), signature, date
What to include in a debrief slip
-thank you, aim, the task, the condition you were in, hypothesis, right to withdraw, suffered any harm, any questions, do you still consent to your results being used?
standardised instructions
- in front of you, this study requires you, how long you have, you have the right to withdraw, confidentiality, do you understand?, do you have any questions?
