Issues + Debates: Ethics

Question 1

What are the four principles of ethics and conduct?

Answer 1

Respect, competence, responsibility and integrity.

Question 2

Explain the Respect aspect of ethics.

Answer 2

Can include, privacy, confidentiality, consent, right to withdraw and deception.

Question 3

Explain the competency aspect of ethics.

Answer 3

Requires researchers to be skilled in matters related to their research area. If research involves treatment they should be trained and able to administer such therapies.

Question 4

Explain the Responsibility aspect of ethics.

Answer 4

Researchers must consider their participants and how the research impacts them whether it is through psychological or physical harm or the results of the research affecting them.

Question 5

Explain the integrity aspect of ethics.

Answer 5

Researchers should be honest and fair avoiding deception where possible and in treatment research giving control groups access to therapy as well.

Question 6

Who created the four principles of ethics and conduct?

Answer 6

BPS code of ethics and conduct.

Question 7

Who creates regulations for the use of animals in psychological research?

Answer 7

The animals scientific procedures act and home office regulations.

Question 8

Describe the animal’s scientific procedures act.

Answer 8

Requires researchers to consider the causes of psychological distress and physical pain in animals such as housing, feeding and social companions.

Question 9

Describe the home office’s regulations.

Answer 9

Compliance with the act is monitored by home office inspectors who ensure procedures are being used in research.

Question 10

What are the 3 R’s of animal research?

Answer 10

-Replacement
-Reduction
-Refinement

Question 11

Describe the replacement condition of animal research.

Answer 11

Replace animals with non-animal alternatives when possible.

Question 12

Describe the reduce condition of animal research.

Answer 12

Researchers should attempt to reduce the number of animals used to the minimum.

Question 13

Describe the refinement condition of animal research.

Answer 13

Researchers should refine procedures to minimise suffering.

Question 14

What are the problems with ethics in social psychology?

Answer 14

-Most experiments into obedience and prejudice would be considered unethical by today’s standards.
-Obedience research removes the right to withdraw as they are gradually ordered to comply.
-Prejudice studies risk physical harm as group conflict is encouraged.
-The reasons why issues were necessary must be considered.

Question 15

What are the problems with ethics in the social psychology classic study?

Answer 15

Milgram:
-Were told they could drop out but the prods removed the right to withdraw.
-Thought they were physically shocking another person= psychological harm (biting nails).
-Milgram said he gave debriefs but Perry claimed that some participants left thinking the learner had died.

Question 16

What are the problems with ethics in the contemporary study of social psychology?

Answer 16

Sherif et al:
-Friction stage encouraged conflict between the boys and researchers even staged a ransacking of a cabin to incite conflict, which could have harmed the boys as fights broke out.

Question 17

What are the problems with ethics in cognitive psychology?

Answer 17

-Case studies kept anonymous using abbreviations like HM maintains their right to privacy.
-Some research uses deception but the right to withdraw is made clear.
-Case studies are rare and unique so sometimes are overstudied which can affect the individual’s home life.

Question 18

What are the problems with the ethics of the cognitive classic study?

Answer 18

Baddeley:
-Didn’t inform participants of the surprise retest of word lists to test long-term recall= deception.
However, this gave his results high validity as it represented memory in real life.

Question 19

What are the problems with ethics of the cognitive contemporary study?

Answer 19

Sebastian + Hernandez-Gil: