Informed consent - SAQ

Question 1

Informed consent

Answer 1

Participation in a study must be voluntary, and participants must fully understand the nature of their involvement, including the aims of the study, what tasks they will be exposed to and how the data will be used.

Question 2

What should researchers do?

Answer 2

Researchers should provide as much information as possible and in the clearest possible way, hence the name ‘informed’ consent. If the participant is a minor, consent should be obtained from parents or legal guardians.

Question 3

Ethics

Answer 3

Refers to the correct rules of conduct necessary when carrying out research. Psychologists have a moral responsibility to protect research participants from physical and psychological harm.

Question 4

Issues with the biological approach and informed consent

Answer 4

The biological approach has some special problems with regard to informed consent.

First, the biological approach uses animals which cannot actually give consent.

In addition, biological researchers often do studies of people who have mental illness or brain damage.

It could be argued that these participants may not be able to understand what they are agreeing to.

Finally, often biological research is rather complex and may not be understood by the average person, making “informed consent” difficult.

Question 5

Study used for cognitive and biological

Answer 5

Milner (1966)

Question 6

Why is HM problematic?

Answer 6

As HM could not remember giving consent, this study is ethically problematic.

HM was asked to give consent throughout the experiment, but it is not clear that he really understood what was happening or who Milner actually was.

Originally consent was given by HM’s mother and then later by his caretakers.

However, there is a concern that HM may not have been able to take advantage of his right to withdraw either because he did not understand or he forgot.

Question 7

Informed consent in sociocultural approach

Answer 7

Tajfel et al (1971)