Issues For Psychology As A Science Pack

Question 1

Why consider ethical issues in psychological research?

Answer 1

1. To safeguard the interests of the participants
2. Society has high standards for moral behaviour in scientists

Question 2

What’s the aim of the BPS code of ethics and conduct (2009?)

Answer 2

To provide ethical standards which apply to all

Question 3

What are the big four in the code of conduct

Answer 3

1. Respect
2. Competence
3. Responsibility
4. Integrity

Question 4

Explain respect

Answer 4

All human beings are worthy of equal moral consideration.

Question 5

Explain competence

Answer 5

Psychologists ability to use their specialist knowledge, training, skills, and experience to a professional level

Question 6

Explain responsibility

Answer 6

Members must accept appropriate responsibility for what is within their power, control, or management

Question 7

Explain integrity

Answer 7

Being honest, truthful, accurate, and consistent in one’s actions, words, decisions, methods and outcomes

Question 8

What are four standards that the code of conduct has

Answer 8

Giving advice, general respect, protection of participants, and right to withdraw

Question 9

Give an advantage of the ethical guidelines

Answer 9

Participants are protected from mental and physical harm

Question 10

Give a disadvantage of ethical guidelines

Answer 10

It constrains research in psychology therefore reducing its validity

Question 11

Give the underlying philosophical approach of the code of conduct

Answer 11

Do unto others as you would be done by

Question 12

Suggest an ethical reason why we use animal testing instead of human testing

Answer 12

Many experiments psychologists conducted were deemed unethical for human testing but important enough to be justified for animal testing

Question 13

Give 2 practical reasons why we use animals for testing

Answer 13

Animals are good participants so research with animal tends to be highly reliable

Humans have evolved from other animals

Question 14

What’s the title when conducting research involving animals?

Answer 14

Guidelines for psychologists working with animals (2012)

Question 15

What are 3 things psychologists should do in the guidelines for working with animals (2012)?

Answer 15

Replacing the use of animals - using alternatives eg computer simulation

Number of animals - use the smallest number of animals possible

Animal care - the conditions they are kept in must be good

Question 16

What are the three R’s

Answer 16

Replacement, reduction, and refinement

Question 17

What are the three licences?

Answer 17

Personal licence

Project licence

Establishment licence

Question 18

Give an advantage of the ethical guidelines of research with animals

Answer 18

Rigorous legislation protects animals with are otherwise unable to defend themselves

Question 19

Give a disadvantage of the ethical guidelines of research on animals

Answer 19

Replication might be prevented so a study cannot be repeated - reducing reliability

Question 20

What are three things the standard 2.2 on ethical decision making says psychologists should do?

Answer 20

Recognise that ethical dilemmas will inevitably rise

Accept responsibility to resolve dilemmas

Be committed to the requirements

Question 21

Define reliability

Answer 21

A research finding that’s produced consistently

Question 22

Define validity

Answer 22

The extent to which a study has measured what it claims to measure

Question 23

Define internal validity

Answer 23

The extent to which a test of human behaviour accurately measures what it’s supposed to measure

Question 24

What does objectivity mean

Answer 24

No bias or personal interpretations in an experiment

Question 25

What does subjectivity mean?

Answer 25

Personal opinions

Question 26

Define ecological validity

Answer 26

The extent to which a research finding obtained in one environment can be generalised to a different situation

Question 27

Define generalisability

Answer 27

Applying findings to a wider population

Question 28

Give an advantage and disadvantage of qualitative data

Answer 28

Advantage - The data gives info about the meanings of behaviour - increasing validity

Disadvantage - analysis of data is open to interpretation and so is more subjective - decreasing validity

Question 29

Give an advantage and disadvantage of quantitative data

Answer 29

Advantage - data tends to be easier to replicate - more reliable

Disadvantage - lacks richness in detail - decreasing validity