Ethics

Question 1

BPS code of ethics (practicing)

Answer 1

Respect - avoid unfair/prejudiced practices

Competence - avoid stepping out of area of competence

Responsibility - right to withdraw, not answer questions, use debrief

Integrity - be honest

Question 2

BPS code of research ethics

Answer 2

Respect the automnity and dignity of persons - consent, confidentiality, anonymity, fair treatment

Scientific value - research should be well designed to maximise scientific knowledge

Social responsibility - be aware of social aspects of conducting research (e.g. communication of results)

Maximising effect minimising harm - consider research activities from perspective of participants

Question 3

why do we need ethics?

Answer 3

to avoid illegal activity
to avoid deception
to avoid risk
to protect us

Question 4

ethical checklist

Answer 4

Risks - protection of researcher, protection of the participant (confidentiality, informed consent)

Consent - (sensitive results - reaction times…)

Deception - avoid if possible (misdirection rather than deceit)

Question 5

consent form checklist

Answer 5

aims of research 
method of collection and intended use 
confidentiality and anonymity 
compliance with data protection act 
right to decline and withdraw 
contact details

Question 6

informed consent

Answer 6

provide participants with enough information to make an informed decision about participating in the study

Question 7

data protection act 1998

Answer 7

participants can request any identifiable data held by the researchers (names, appearance, image, voice)

if the data is anonymised the participants cannot be linked to their data and the data protection act does not apply

Question 8

Rest’s (1982) model of ethical reasoning (thinking)

Answer 8

ethical reasoning can be seen as a progression through a number of stages (sequence and thought of ethical behaviour)

1) ethical sensitivity - understanding that there is an ethical issue
2) ethical reasoning - deciding on the ethically moral course of action
3) ethical motivation - deciding what can be done
4) ethical implementation - executing the action identified above

Question 9

protection of researcher

Answer 9

scrutiny of proposed methods protects the researcher from mistakes

risk assessment enables researchers to consider their research from an ethical stance

covering your back

Question 10

avoid harm of participant

Answer 10

confidentiality
right to withdraw
methodologies that do not harm
informed consent

Question 11

sensitive data

Answer 11

reaction times
accuracy data
questionnaire response
interview transcripts

Question 12

consent forms avoid risk by:

Answer 12

signing of a legal document
participants make an informed decision
allows participants to be deceived
allows participants to withdraw

Question 13

consent forms mean participants have:

Answer 13

legal document that outlines their consent
the chance to take part
information they need to decide if they want to take part
some information about the research

Question 14

what is the new data protection act

Answer 14

general data protection regulation (25th May 2018)

Question 15

anonymising data

Answer 15

use a list of names and numbers (keeping separate from the data)

use a self generated code (mothers initials, number of siblings, shoe size…)

Question 16

deception

Answer 16

not telling the participant the full details of the study (full aims, omission of details rather than deceit)

misdirection rather than deceit (missing out specific aims, presenting as testing something else)