Ethics

Question 1

What is the definition of Ethics?

Answer 1

The science of morals or rules of behaviour

Question 2

What does “ethical” research involve?

Answer 2

Conducting research in a humane way without compromising the integrity of any individual being tested i.e. cause no deliberate harm, and should harm occur there should be procedures to reverse it

Question 3

What is the role of ethical guidelines?

Answer 3

Some areas of research into the human experience and behaviour are actually beyond the reach of investigation and guidelines clarify conditions under which research is and isn’t acceptable

Question 4

What must psychological investigators be very aware of?

Answer 4

The ethical implications and psychological consequences for participants both during and after a study - do benefits of conducting the research outweigh potential risk?

Question 5

What must be done before a study is ethically approved?

Answer 5

Confirm that every possible cause for concern has been considered and addressed, and any risks minimised as much as possible

Question 6

What are the 4 principles in the BPS code of ethics and conduct?

Answer 6

1) RESPECT - Value dignity and worth of participants
2) COMPETENCE - Competent in dealing with any accidents, perform good data security procedure etc, and also know own limits
3) RESPONSIBILITY
4) INTEGRITY - Value honesty, accuracy, clarity and fairness in all interactions

Question 7

What is meant by Informed Consent?

Answer 7

Participants made fully aware of study objectives (wherever possible), expected study duration, risks involved and the procedure they will be undertaking

Question 8

How are children/adults with impairments in communication/understanding dealt with?

Answer 8

Children can give “assent” from the age of 9 but cannot give full consent until 16. Before 16 the parents need to give informed consent for them. Family members also have to consent for impaired adults

Question 9

What must be done in cases of longitudinal research?

Answer 9

Consent must be obtained on multiple occasions during the course of the study, even after the study too if, for example, results are going to be used for a new and previously undisclosed purpose (ethical reviews will also have to be repeated in this circumstance)

Question 10

Discuss the problem of deception in psychological research

Answer 10

In some types of research, full details may PRIME a participant and influence results so deception becomes necessary.
However it should only be used where fully justifiable i.e. significant beneficial value and no alternative method
Participants must be fully informed at the next earliest opportunity

Question 11

When is withholding information fully unacceptable?

Answer 11

If participants are typically likely to object/show unease once debriefed

Question 12

What is involved in the debriefing process?

Answer 12

Participants informed of study purpose as soon as feasibly possible after study completion (delay makes it less effective)
Where deception has been involved e.g. in social psychology experiments, debriefs will need to be particularly lengthy and detailed

Question 13

What is a key requirement of an effective debrief?

Answer 13

Participants MUST leave in exactly the same state they arrived in, and should it become observable that any mental/physical harm has been done researchers need to take steps to minimise/reverse this (but be careful to remain within boundaries of own qualification and refer on to other professionals where necessary)

Question 14

What 2 elements of the debrief should participants absolutely be informed of?

Answer 14

Right to withdraw from the study at any time, and right to have data destroyed in front of them

Question 15

How should ALL confidential information be treated?

Answer 15

Recorded, processed and stored in ways which avoid inadvertent disclosure e.g. coding
Consent form and data should be stored separately but in a way that allows accessible retrieval should the participant wish to withdraw

Question 16

What are the three considerations that must be made to ensure appropriate protection for participants?

Answer 16

Risks should ideally be no higher than those exposed to in ordinary day-to-day life
All participants must be tactfully asked during the consent process about any medical conditions
Adequate information should be provided to allow participant to contact researcher following participation

Question 17

When is observational research appropriate?

Answer 17

In situations where people would already expect to be in public view - enough of a crowd to protect against individual identification
Remember there will have been no informed consent in these circumstances so privacy and wellbeing need to be respected

Question 18

How must psychological researchers handle the distribution of advice to participants?

Answer 18

It is the duty of a researcher to inform a participant if they are displaying signs of something but they must not overstep their own qualification - make participant aware of the limits of the techniques being used, the limits of your own qualification, and available sources of appropriate expert advice should they wish to use it

Question 19

What is the one key difference between APA and BPS guidelines?

Answer 19

APA specifically focus on the aspect of COERCION i.e. the idea that participants should not be forced to stay in the research environment should they not want to (a big flaw in the Milgram experiment)

Question 20

What was the one area in which the Milgram experiment was actually quite good?

Answer 20

The debriefing process - participants were interviewed after the study, psychologically tested, reassured, and also invited to see a psychiatrist one year following the study

Question 21

What are two essential considerations where animal research is undertaken?

Answer 21

Research must only be conducted by fully trained personnel and a vet must always be on hand
The animals’ quality of life must be maintained fully i.e. adequate warmth, food, comfort

Question 22

What are the “Three R’s”?

Answer 22

REDUCTION - minimum number of animals used
REFINEMENT - experiment refined to permit specific question to be answered efficiently and without undue risk
REPLACEMENT- If an experiment can feasibly be done using a human it should be done that way

Question 23

What is the difference between animal rights and animal welfare?

Answer 23

Animal welfare is the concept most commonly accepted and adhered to - it essentially refers simply to concerns for the care and use of animals
Animal rights is a generally rejected notion - the idea that animals have the same rights as humans, including legal rights

Question 24

What are three main arguments FOR animal testing?

Answer 24

1) Greater control over variables e.g. can make animals feed at precise intervals
2) Several generations can be bred where species have short gestation/maturation periods - useful for study of genetic processes and observation of development
3) Inspires fresh theories for human behaviour e.g. theories of adult-infant bonding

Question 25

What is one of the key (and potentially damaging) consequences of deception in psychological research?

Answer 25

Suspiciousness of participants taking part in future research

Question 26

What are three criticisms of involuntary participation, especially in cases of naturalistic (covert) observations?

Answer 26

1) Privacy principle is difficult to follow
2) It is difficult to check out the final version of reports with participants in order to verify that an accurate account of their statements has been made
3) Manipulations in involuntary experiments can interfere with people’s lives in ways which they have not consented to

Question 27

What is the ethical issue surrounding interventions in psychological research?

Answer 27

In the case of medical research, once a drug has been shown to be effective the trial is stopped to permit the drug to be fairly administered to both the treatment and the control groups (and everyone else)
However in psychological research, even if success is apparent, there is not usually the political power and resources to implement the “treatment” across all groups who would benefit. The dilemma then is in selecting one group for special treatment

Question 28

What are some practical criticisms of animal research?

Answer 28

Instinctive animal behaviours (fixed action patterns) which do not exist in humans, the use of language in humans - essentially using animals rarely provides much useful information that can be accurately extrapolated to humans

Question 29

What 4 ethical issues are present in the following scenario?
“An actor falls down in the street, apparently ill. Will passers-by stop less often than when the actor has red liquid oozing from his mouth?”

Answer 29

Involuntary participation
Lack of informed consent
Deception
Psychological stress

Question 30

What 4 ethical issues are present in the following scenario?
"Longitudinal case study in which covertly record behaviour and speech of a class colleague who is believed to be in the developmental stages of anorexia"

Answer 30

Lack of informed consent
Involuntary participation
Lack of professional expertise
General lack of respect

Question 31

Distinguish between anonymity and confidentiality

Answer 31

Anonymity = simply keeping participants' identities secret, but the data may still be publishes
Confidentiality = applies to more professional practice where details of peoples' admissions or treatment are kept from publication