Lesson 9- British Psychological Society (BPS) Code of ethics & ethical issues Flashcards
What is the link between ethical issues & high quality research?
Ethical Issues- ⬆️ quality research involves good ethical practice & ethical issues must be fully considered before research conducted
What is an ethics committee?
Ethics Committee- Research institutions e.g. universities have ethical committees- consist of psychologists, staff etc- aim to approve research proposals (examine ethical issues- make sure research ethical)
What is the British Psychological Society (BPS)?
British Psychological Society (BPS)- publishes code of ethics- includes rules that all investigators should follow when conducting research
What are the 10 ethical guidelines published by the British Psychological Society?
1) Introduction
2) General
3) Informed Consent
4) Avoid deception
5) Debriefing
6) Right to Withdraw
7) Confidentiality
8) Protection of Participants from psychological or physical harm
9) Observational Research
10) Giving Advice
What is introduction?
Ethical guidelines necessary to ensure psychological research is acceptable
What is general?
Research must be considered from viewpoint of all pps- all potential threats to their well-being must be removed
What is informed consent?
Consent possible but informed consent difficult as risk of desman characteristics
Pps’ agreement to take part in research- based on their full knowledge of nature & purpose of research- full briefing required to ensure they are fully aware of tasks they are required to do & their rights as pps (right to withdraw & confidentiality). If under 16- parental/carer consent gained
What is avoiding deception?
Deception should be avoided- info ✖️ be deliberately withheld and pps ✖️ be misled without strong scientific or medical justification. Pps informed at earliest stage and consulted in advance about how deception received by them- overcome by debriefing (after study)
What is debriefing?
End of study- researcher should provide detailed info about research & answer any Q pps have- pps- monitored for any ➖ effects & active intervention given if necessary
What is the right to withdraw?
Pps’ right to withdraw from study- communicated at start of research- pps have right to withdraw consent later in study- all their data must be destroyed
ALSO if inducement (money 💵) offered- MUST be paid no matter duration of stay
What is confidentiality?
Data Protection Act: info disclosed during research process confidential
If compromised then pps’ consent asked in advance- Numbers/letter used instead of names if research published to protect pps identity
NOTE- different to anonymity (pps never provide name to researcher)
What is the protecting of participants from psychological or physical harm?
Pps- protected from psychological 🧠 harm e.g. distress etc- risk of harm during research ✖️⬆️ than experienced in daily life- if potential for harm then pps approval sought & pps advised before consent gained- stop ✋ study immediately if pps harmed
✖️ more harm than every day life
What is observational research?
Observational studies must respect privacy & psychological 🧠 well-being of individuals studied- observational research acceptable in public situations when one would expect to be observed by strangers
What is giving advice?
Researcher’s responsibility- inform pps about physical/psychological 🧠 harm of which pps unaware if felt that to ✖️ do so would endanger pps’ future well-being
What are the 4 types of consent?
1) Informed
2) Presumptive (assumed)
3) Prior general
4) Retrospective
