Ethics Flashcards
what are ethical issues?
issues that ppts could face during the research that can affect them in many ways
when do ethical issues arrise?
when there is conflict or dilemma exists between the rights of ppts and the researchers need to get valuable and meaningful findings
deception meaning?
deception is when ppts are told not the true AIMS of the study deliberately and/or are misled as to one or more aspects of the study
valid consent meaning?
where ppts are asked to give permission to take part in the study and should know the true nature of the study
protection of ppts meaning?
ppts should be protected psychologically (e.g. stress, humiliation, anxiety) and physically (pain). They must not be plavced at more risk than they would be in everday life
risks to ppts values, beliefs, relationships, status meaning?
these are broader considerations of the impact of the research on ppts, such as if their attitudes or beliefs are challenged, or if the research damages their relationships with other ppl
privacy meaning?
privacy is diff from confidentiality, privacy refers to the ppts keeping behaviours or attitudes secret due to their sensitive nature whereas confidentiality refers to ensuring their data is kept ananoymous
confidentiality meaning?
enduring ppts details and data remain anonymous so they cannot be identified in the research. The researcher could use fake (pseudo) names/ initials or numbers
how to deal with deception?
- Debrief - a post research intervew wherte the ppt is told the true aims and full details of the study r given
- ppts should also be given the right to withdraw from the research
- could obtain presumptive consent for the deception
- need for d shud b approved by ethics comittee
- ppts should be offered opport to discuss concerns & withold data from study
valid consent is…
- voluntary
- informed
- with capacity to make a descision
how to deal with valid consent?
- must offer right to withdraw, consent form
- ppts should be given a consent form detailing the true nature and aims of the study
- child under 16 or vunerable adult can’t give consent, must be obained from a guardian
- other ways to gain consent: 3P’s
- if consent wasn’t gained from ppts in the study, a debrief should be given and ppts cab give RETROSPECTIVE CONSENT
What are the 3P’s (valid consent?
- Presumptive consent - this is gaining consent from a similar set of ppts who won’t actually be doing the study
- Prior informed consent - getting general cosnent from ppts of things that COULD happen
- Parental consent - where ppts are too young to give consent, it is gained from parents (under 16)
phow to deal with protection from harm?
- right to withdraw - ppts should be offered the right to withdraw at any point udring or after the research
- debrief - reassure ppts that their bhvr is nomral - offer conselling to all ppts
- avoid any risks geater than exp in everday life
- stop study if harm suspected
how to deal with risk to ppts values, beliefs, relationships, status or privacy?
- to avoid issues of privacy, ensure research like observations or filed studies are conducted in public spaces
- right to withdraw - if ppts feel their beliefs/ values are being challanged they should be offered the right to withdraw at any point during or after the resarch
how to deal with confidentiality?
ppts identities should be kept anonymous e.g. use of numbers, initials, fake names
working with animals?
- work within voundarie set by the animals scientific procedures) act 1986
- BPS require researchers to consider alternatives, such as computer simulations
- if using animas, bps members are ‘reminded of their general obligation to avoid at least minimise the discomfort to living animals’
what is an ethics committee?
ethics committee of research insitituions review proposals to assess if the portantial benefits of the resarch are justifiable in the ligt of possible risks of physical/ psychological harm
who is on an ethics committee?
memebers of the comittee include experrts in the field
how do ethics committeees manage the risks of ehical issues?
these committees may request researchers make changes to the study’s design or procedure, or in extreme cases deny approval of the study altogether
what are the benefits of ethics comittees?
cmts are beneficial, as they are a second check that research is ethical, they ensure ppts rights are mmet and often involve indvs who represent the ppts
what does the BPS do- what is their code of conduct?
- The BPS code of conduct are guidlines which are set out to British psychologists on what is and isn’t acceptable when carrying out research. It focuses on the four ethical principals of respect, competence, responsibility &integrity.
what happens if reasercgers don’t follow BPS guidelines?
could b expelled from BPS and lose job
valid consent - researcher P.O.V?
- revealing details may cause ppts to guess aims
valid consent - Ppts P.O.V?
- ppt should be told of what r required to do so can make informed decision abt if they want to ppt
- even if researcher has obtained valid consent, doesn’t mean ppts fully understand what in for
- requirement for researcher to point out likely risks/ benefits - which rschrs not always able to acc predic.
deception - researcher P.O.V?
- can be nec to deceive ppts abt true aims otheriwise ppts may alter behav and studies could be meaningless
- a distiction shoudl be made between withholding some of the details of the research aims (resonably acc) and delib prov false info. (less acceptable)
deception - ppt P.O.V?
- d = unethical - researcher should not deceive anyone without good cause.
- prevents ppts from being able to give valid consent
- may agree to ppt w/o really knowing what have let themselves in for, might be distressed bye exp
- can also lead ppl to see psychologists as untrustworthy, won’t want to volunteer again
risk of harm (stress, anxiety, humiliation, pain)- researcher P.O.V?
- studying some of more imp ques in psy may involve a degree of risk
- diff to predict outcome of certain procedures (Milgram Obedience study) so diff to guarantee protec from any risk of harm
risk of harm (stress, anxiety, humiliation, pain)- ppt P.O.V?
- nothing shld happen to them during study that causes harm
- many ways harm can be cause: physical (smoking) and psychological (feel inadequate)
- acceptable if risk of harm is no greater than everyday life & if ppts in same state after study as b4 unless hv given valid consent to be treated otherwise
confidentiality - researcher P.OV?
- May be diff to protect confid bc researcher wishes to publish findings
- may guarantee anonymity (withholding ppt’s names) but still may be obvs who has been involved in a study
confidentiality - ppt P.OV?
- the Data Protection Act makes c a legal right.
- only acceptable for personal data to be recorded if data are not made aval. in a form that identifies ppts
privacy - researcher P.O.V?
- may be diff to avoid invasion of p when studying ppts without their awareness. e.g. in field exper
privacy - ppts P.O.V?
- ppts don’t expect to be observed by others in certain situations, e.g. when at home, while they might expect this when sitting on a park bench in public
when pts are asked to formally indicate their willingness to ppt in research, what should this be based on?
- info concerning nature of and purpose of the research and their role in it
why might ppts choose not to withdraw? when is it not poss to offer this?
- ppts may feel shouldn’t withdraw bc will spoil the study
- in many studies, ppts are paid/ rewarded and ma not feel able to withdraw
how should a resarcher deal with decep?
- need for d shld be approved by an ethics committee, ppts should be debriefed after study
ppts should eb ofered the oppor to discusss any concerns maty have , and to withhold data from study - retrospective valid consent form
how should a researcher deal with protection frm harm?
- avoid any risk greater than exp in everyday life
- stop study if harm suspected
how might researcher ensure confid?
- should not record names of any pts; use numvbers or false names
how can a researcher ensure they don’t breach a ppt’s priv when conducting an observation?
- don’t study anyone without their valid consent unless it’s a public space and public behaviour (e.g. would exclude couple’s intimate moments in park)
explain right to withdraw
- if ppts feel uncomf or sitressed, they should be given r.t.w.
- espec import if ppt has been decived abt aims and/ or procedures
- hwr, if ppt has been fully informed, the actual ep of taking part may turn out to be rather diff, so should be able to withdraw
why is debriefing used
- a post research interview
- designed to inform ppts of the nature of the study + restore them to state they were in at start of study
- may also be used to gain insightful feedback abt procedures
- used to deal with ethical issues like decpetion and psychological harm and any unforseen psy harm
dealing w valid consent disadvantages ?
- if ppt is given full info abt a study, might invalidate purpose
- even if valid consent gained, dosn’t mean they undertdtand what hv let emselves in fr
- prblm with presumptive cosnent: what ppts expect will / won’t mind might be diff from acc exp it
dealing w deception disadvantages ?
- cost benefit decisions are flawed as involve subjc judgements and costs and/or benefits r not always apparent until after study
- debriefing can’t turn clock back - ppts may still feel embarassed and hv lowered self esteem
dealing w risk of harm disadvantages ?
harm may not be app at time of study and only judged later with hindsight
dealing w confidentiality disadvantages ?
sometimes poss to work out ppts were using info provided (e.g. geographical location of a school)
- in pratic thfr, confid may not be poss
dealing w priv disadvantages ?
no universal agreement abt what constitutes a public place
risk to ppt’s values, beliefs, relationships, status or priv makes psychologists think abt?
a broader considération of rthe impact their research may have on the ppt
risk to ppt’s values, beliefs, relationships, status or priv - what do resarchers have to ensure?
ppt’s opinions and attitudes r not demeaned and/ or their associations with other ppl are not damaged by their pptation in the resarch.
- their position within an organisation or society in general is not jeopardised
risk to ppt’s values, beliefs, relationships, status or priv - how can most of these elements be dealt with?
by ensuring that the priv of the ppts is mainained through adequate conidentiality arrangements
working with vulnerable indivs - who does the british psychological society consider to be a vulnerable indiv?
- children under 16
- ppl with learning/ comm difficulties
- patients in care
- ppl in custody or on probation
- ppl engaged in illegal activities such as drug abuse
working with vulnerable indivs- why can we not gain valid consent from a vulnerable indiv?
- the vulnerable indiv may not be able to fully undertsand the reasons for the research and thfr not really be able to give ‘informed consent’ to ppt
working with vulnerable indivs - who can give valid cosnent on behalf of the vunerable indiv?
the person legally rrsponsbible for the indiv such as parent or guardian
working with animals - what do u have to have to be able to work with animals?
a license to work with abimals and research has to be lisencsed
working with animals - what does the BPS Guidelines for Psychologists working with animals 2012 say?
BPS members r’ reminded of their general obligation to avoid or at least minimise discomfort to living animals’
working with animals - what alternatives to using animals are researchers asked to consider?
- computer simulations
- if using animals is unavoidable, strict recommendations about factors such as the species type, care requirements ect that need to be met by r
ethical guidelines evaluation?
- the ‘rules and sanctions’ approach is inevitably rather general bc of the virtual impossibility of covering every conecivable situation r may encounter
- guidlines m=absolve reseracher from repson bc can say ‘ i followed guildines so my rearch is acceptable’
