Ethics Flashcards
What are ethical issues?
A conflict between participant rights and researcher’s needs to gain valuable and meaningful findings
What is the BPS code of ethics?
A legal document produced by the British Psychological Society (BPS) that instructs psychologists in the UK about what behaviour is and isn’t acceptable when dealing with participants
What are the four major ethical issues?
1) Informed consent
2) deception
3) Protection from harm
4) privacy and confidentiality
Define ‘informed consent’
Participants must be given comprehensive information concerning the purpose of the research and their role in it so they can make an informed decision about whether to participate
Define ‘deception’
A participant is not told the true aims of a study and so cannot give truly informed consent
Define ‘protection from harm’
Participants must not be exposed to any negative physical or psychological effects than they would in their normal day
Define ‘privacy’
The right to control information about yourself.
Define ‘confidentiality’
Concerns the communication of personal information from one person to another and the trust that the information will be protected
Describe a way to overcome issues with informed consent
Participants issued with consent letter detailing relevant info that might affect their decision to participate. Should be made aware of their right to withdraw
Describe a way to overcome issues with deception
Debrief- Happens at the end of study. Participants made aware of true aims of study and can refuse for their data to be used.
How do you overcome issues with privacy and confidentiality?
Ensure anonymity. E.g. refer to participants using numbers or initials Remind during debrief that participants’ data will be protected
How do you overcome issues with protection from harm?
Debrief- made aware of true aims of study. Should be reassured that behaviour was typical and in extreme cases counselling/ long-term follow us care offered.
What is presumptive consent?
When consent is gained from a similar group of people to the participants
What is prior general consent?
When consent is given by participants to take part in a number of different studies, including one that will be deceptive
What is retrospective consent?
Participants asked for consent during the debrief. They may not have been aware of their participation in the study or been subject to deception.
