Ethics in psychological research Flashcards
Define ethical issue
when there is a conflict between participants rights and researchers needs to gain valuable findings
What is BPS and what do they do?
British Psychological Society - professional body that instructs psychologists in the UK on acceptable behaviour when dealing with participants.
BPS - Code of Ethics and Conduct (2009)
Set of guidelines with 4 ethical principles
What are the 4 ethical principles?
Responsibility, integrity, respect and competence.
Define responsibility (4 ethical principles)
taking care of participants (e.g. avoiding distress or harm) and the researcher is held accountable for their work.
Define integrity (4 ethical principles)
professional boundaries maintained, must look for misconduct in others, honesty and accuracy, must be clear about any conflicts of interest.
Define respect (4 ethical principles)
treating a person as an individual and in a fair and unprejudiced way.
Define competence (4 ethical principles)
research must be carried out within the researches ability
PC PRID
Privacy
Confidentiality
Protection from harm
Right to withdraw
Informed consent
Deception
Privacy
Participants right to control information about themselves
Confidentiality
Protect personal information
Protection from harm
participants should not experience negative physical or psychological effects
Right to withdraw
Participants are told and are able to withdraw at any time
Informed consent
Full information about the nature and purpose of the study
Deception
Participant not told a study’s true aim and/or procedures
Types of consent
Informed consent
Presumptive consent
Prior general consent
Retrospective consent
How is informed consent gathered?
Consent letter issued to participants detailing all relevant information that might affect their decision to participate
Presumptive consent
a similar group of people are asked if the study is acceptable
Prior general consent
participants give their permission to take part in a number of different studies, including one that will involve deception
Retrospective consent
participants have already taken part in the study when they are asked for their consent (during debriefing)
Dealing with confidentiality
maintain anonymity by using pseudo names, numbers or initials when writing up the investigation.
Dealing with deception and protection from harm
participants given full debrief where they are made aware of true aims and any details they were not supplied with during the study.
they must be told what their data will be used for and given the right to withhold their data.
what is risk management?
identification of potential physical or psychological harm
where the long-term gains are weighed up against the short-term risks and ethics committee will decide if the risks are justified
