Research Methods B Flashcards
BPS
The British psychological society
The British psychological society
A professional body with a code of ethics which includes a set of ethical guidelines
BPS code of ethics
A set of ethical guidelines
Outlines what types of things are unacceptable
What are ethical guidelines?
Gives ways to deal with ethical issues
Difference between ethical issue and an ethical guideline
Issues are the difficulties faced by the researcher in terms of what they would like to do to the participants, whereas guidelines show them how to do it in a responsible way
What’s an ethics committee
A group of professionals who look at the research proposal to decide whether or not it should be allowed
Cost benefit analysis
Weighing up whether the price paid by the participant is worth it
What are Ethical issues
Issues that arise when a conflict exists between the rights of participants and the goals of the research to provide meaningful, valid data
Name the ethical issues
Consent Confidentiality Deception Withdraw Protection
Difference between confidentiality and privacy
Confidentiality is not sharing other people’s details. Personal info
Privacy is freedom from intrusion. Personal matters
Ways researchers might try to deal with informed consent
Participants should be given full details of the study including the aims, what they will be asked to do and how the data will be used.
Only once they have this info they should be asked to formally indicate their agreement to take part in the study
If under 16, a signature by a parent or guardian is required
Other ways of dealing with informed consent
Presumptive consent
Prior general consent
Retrospective consent
Presumptive consent
Rather than getting consent from the participants, a similar group of people are asked if the study is acceptable
Prior general consent
Participants give their permission to take part in a number of different studies- including one that will involve deception
Retrospective consent
Participants are asked for their consent having already taken part in the study. They may not have been aware of their participation
Problems that might occur when the researcher deals with informed consent
Knowing the aim of the study can lead to participants not acting naturally so little of value is learned. So sometimes other ways of dealing with informed consent are used
There is still no guarantee that the participant does actually understand what they’re agreeing to be part of
Ways researchers might try to deal with deception
Avoid it if at all possible particularly if it seems likely that participants will object when they find out later
Debrief participants fully after the study and give them a chance to withdraw their data
Gain the approval of an ethics committee who will weight up the benefits of the study alongside the costs to the participant
Ways researchers might try to deal with the right to withdraw
Participants should be told their participation is entirely voluntary and they can leave at any point and they can take their data if they wish
Ways researchers might try to deal with protection from harm
Steps should be taken to ensure p’s aren’t physically or psychologically harmed
P’s shouldn’t be placed at anymore risk than they would in their normal lives which includes the feeling of embarrassment or stress
The study should be stopped immediately if the p’s appear to be uncomfortable, they can then withhold their data
P’s should be reassured at the end of the study if they feel embarrassed or concerned. The researched should provide counselling if required
Ways researchers might try to deal with confidentiality
P’s name not used and instead they should be referred to as a letter or number or use a fake name
Nothing that would identify the p (e.g. photos or addresses) should be published
Problems that might occur when the researcher deals with deception
Debriefing doesn’t stop the p feeling uncomfortable or embarrassed
Problems that might occur when the researcher deals with the right to withdraw
P’s may still feel they cannot withdraw because they are worried they might spoil the research. This is particularly true if they are being paid to take part
Problems that might occur when the researcher deals with protection form harm
It’s hard to predict the risks involved in some studies until real p’s are actually involved
Problems that might occur when the researcher deals with confidentiality
It’s sometimes impossible to still work out who the p’s are
What should a debrief include
The studies’ aim / purpose
Explain any deception, provide right to withdraw, emphasise confidentiality
The conditions and/or manipulations – what they were, how did they differ
Offering of help/details of researcher provided
Any questions?
What format should the debrief be in?
Verbatim
What do observation studies involve
Watching and recording people’s behaviours
Types of observation techniques
Naturalistic Controlled Overt Covert Participant Non-participant
Naturalistic observation technique
Observing people in the natural environments
Behaviour isn’t controlled. Researcher doesn’t interfere
People can choose how to behave
Controlled observation technique
Some variables in the environment are regulated/manipulated by the researcher
Researcher can investigate the effect of certain things on behaviour
Can take place in lab or natural setting
Covert observation technique
Participants are not aware that they are being observed
Overt observation technique
Participants are aware that they are being observed. Paragraph the research is not hidden/can be seen
Participant observation technique
Observers become actively involved in the situation being studied to gain “hands on“ experience
