L10: Ethics

Question 1

What is Informed Consent?

Answer 1

• Ppts should sign a consent form
• They should know there is no pressure to consent,
• They can withdraw, and that they can withdraw their data at any time.
• Ppts should know their data is confidential, and that they can ask questions at any time
• They will receive a full debriefing at the end
• Sometimes if is not possible to gain it because it causes demand characteristics

Question 2

What is protection from harm?

Answer 2

• Responsibility to protect ppt from physical and psychological harm.
• Risk of harm should be no greater than in ordinary life
• Psychologists must stop any study if they think someone is harmed
• Ppts should leave the research the same way they entered it

Question 3

What is Right to Withdraw?

Answer 3

• At the start, Ppts should know they can leave whenever, regardless if payment/inducement has been offered.
• Difficult to implement in covert observations
• Withdraw their data at ANY point in the future
• If ppt appear distressed, they should be reminded of their right

Question 4

What is avoid deception?

Answer 4

• Withholding information/ misleading Ppts if they are likely to object after they have been told they have been deceived
• Intentional deception should be avoided
• Sometimes unavoidable due to demand characteristics
• Ethics committee must approve research before it begins and a Cost Benefit Analysis is conducted
• If used, the other conditions must be explained to ppts, and they must be told why it was necessary.

Question 5

What is debriefing?

Answer 5

• Takes place after research
• Ppts told the aim + information of other conditions
• Researcher should check on Ppts welfare and remind them of RTW, and that they need to remain confidential about others results
• debriefing does not provide justification for unethical aspects of research