L10 - Ethics Flashcards
what is the IMPORTANCE of ETHICS in PSYCHOLOGY?
HIGH QUALITY RESEARCH involves GOOD ETHICAL PRACTICE and ETHICAL ISSUES must be FULLY CONSIDERED BEFORE RESEARCH IS CONDUCTED
In addition to FORMAL ETHICAL GUIDELINES, MOST RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS have ETHICAL COMMITTEES which meet to consider the ETHICS OF RESEARCH STUDIES BEFORE THEY COMMENCE
The BRITISH PSYCHOLOGICAL SOCIETY (BPS) publishes a CODE OF ETHICS, which includes SEVERAL RULES that ALL INVESTIGATORS SHOULD FOLLOW
what is INFORMED CONSENT? - PT 1
BEFORE TAKING PART IN A PSYCHOLOGICAL STUDY, pps should SIGN A CONSENT FORM, this form should EXPLAIN THE GENERAL PURPOSE OF THE STUDY and what it will INVOLVE. It should be MADE CLEAR that there is NO PRESSURE TO CONSENT, that they can WITHDRAW AT ANY TIME, and that they can WITHDRAW THEIR DATA AT ANY TIME.
Pps should be ASSURED that their DATA WILL BE KEPT CONFIDENTIAL and that they can ASK THE RESEARCHER QUESTIONS AT ANY TIME. They should be INFORMED that they will RECEIVE A FULL DEBRIEFING at the END OF THE STUDY
what is INFORMED CONSENT? - PT 2
Whenever possible, investigators should INFORM PPS of the OBJECTIVES OF THEIR INVESTIGATION and GAIN THEIR INFORMED CONSENT to TAKE PART.
IN SOME CASES, it is NOT POSSIBLE TO GAIN INFORMED CONSENT, as it would CAUSE PPS TO ALTER THEIR BEHAVIOUR (DEMAND CHARACTERISTICS)
what is PROTECTION FROM HARM?
Investigators have a RESPONSIBILITY to PROTECT PPS from PHYSICAL HARM and PSYCHOLOGICAL HARM DURING THE STUDY
RISK OF HARM should be NO GREATER THAN IN ORDINARY LIFE. PSYCHOLOGISTS MUST STOP ANY STUDY IMMEDIATELY if they SUSPECT A PP MAY BE HARMED
PPs SHOULD LEAVE THE RESEARCH IN THE SAME CONDITION THAT THEY ENTERED IT
what is RIGHT TO WITHDRAW?
At the START OF THE RESEARCH, ALL PPS MUST BE MADE AWARE that they can LEAVE THE STUDY AT ANY TIME, REGARDLESS of whether PAYMENT or INDUCEMENT HAS BEEN OFFERED
This is DIFFICULT TO IMPLEMENT during COVERT OBSERVATION. Pps should also be AWARE THAT THEY CAN WITHDRAW THEIR DATA at ANY POINT IN THE FUTURE, if pps APPEAR DISTRESSED DURING A STUDY they SHOULD BE REMINDED OF THEIR RIGHT TO WITHDRAW
what is CONFIDENTIALITY?
PPS’ DATA IS CONFIDENTIAL and SHOULD NOT BE DISCLOSED TO ANYONE UNLESS IT HAS BEEN AGREED IN ADVANCE
NUMBERS or LETTERS should be USED INSTEAD OF NAMES if the RESEARCH IS PUBLISHED. CONFIDENTIALITY means that the DATA CAN BE TRACED BACK TO A NAME whereas ANONYMITY means that it CANNOT BE as the pps have NEVER PROVIDED THEIR NAME TO THE RESEARCHERS
what is DECEPTION? - PT 1
The WITHHOLDING of INFORMATION or the MISLEADING OF PPs is UNACCEPTABLE if pps are LIKELY TO OBJECT or SHOW UNEASE ONCE THEY KNOW THEY HAVE BEEN DECEIVED
INTENTIONAL DECEPTION of the pps OVER THE PURPOSE and GENERAL NATURE OF INVESTIGATIONS should be AVOIDED WHENEVER POSSIBLE. Pps SHOULD NOT BE DELIBERATELY MISLED WITHOUT SCIENTIFIC or MEDICAL JUSTIFICATION
Sometimes DECEPTION is UNAVOIDABLE as if pps knew the TRUE NATURE OF THE RESEARCH they WOULD CHANGE THEIR BEHAVIOUR (DEMAND CHARACTERISTICS)
what is DECEPTION? - PT 2
An ETHICS COMMITTEE MUST APPROVE ALL RESEARCH BEFORE IT BEGINS. They CONDUCT A COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS to determine if the RESEARCH SHOULD BE CARRIED OUT
This is when the POTENTIAL HARM OF DOING RESEARCH is WEIGHED AGAINST THE POTENTIAL GAINS
If DECEPTION IS USED then the REAL PURPOSE OF THE EXPERIMENT, and what OCCURRED IN THE OTHER CONDITIONS NEEDS TO BE EXPLAINED TO PPS AFTER THE STUDY. Pps also NEED TO BE TOLD WHY DECEPTION WAS NECESSARY
