Research Methods - Ethical Issues

Question 1

What is an ethical issue

Answer 1

A conflict between:
- what the researcher needs in order to conduct useful & meaningful research
- rights of the participant

+ conflicts about what is acceptable

Question 2

What is informed consent

Answer 2

When the true aims of the experiment are revealed to the participants so they can make a decision if they would like to participate or not

Question 3

How do you deal with informed consent

Answer 3

Gain presumptive consent - asking others when a planned study is acceptable or not

Question 4

What are the limitations of informed consent

Answer 4

Involves telling the participant the exact nature of the study - people may change their behaviour
Presumptive consent - people may have a different experience in the study from what they predicted

Question 5

What is deception

Answer 5

When the participant is not told the true aims of the study

Question 6

How do you deal with deception

Answer 6

Should be approved by an ethical committee & participants debriefed after the study

Question 7

What are the limitations of deception

Answer 7

Debriefing can’t reverse feelings of upset & embarrassment

Question 8

What is the right to withdraw

Answer 8

Participants having the ability to leave a study any time they feel uncomfortable & withdraw their data

Question 9

How to deal with the right to withdraw

Answer 9

Participants should be told at the start of the study that they have the right to withdraw

Question 10

What are the limitations of the right to withdraw

Answer 10

Participants may feel they shouldn’t as it may ‘spoil’ the study & they may feel like won’t get paid/course credits if they do

Question 11

What is the protection from harm

Answer 11

Participants shouldn’t have to experience any negative negative physical/psychological effects from participating

Question 12

How to deal with protection from harm

Answer 12

Avoiding any risks than are greater than everyday life experiences & stopping the study if anyone thinks participants are getting harmed

Question 13

What are the limitations of protection from harm

Answer 13

Researchers aren’t always able to predict the risks of taking part in the study

Question 14

What is confidentiality

Answer 14

The participants right to have their personal information protected

Question 15

How to deal with confidentiality

Answer 15

Researchers don’t record any names of the participants - use numbers/initials

Question 16

What are the limitations of confidentiality

Answer 16

It’s sometimes possible to work out the identity of a participant from the information so confidentiality isn’t always possible

Question 17

What is privacy?

Answer 17

The freedom from the observation, intrusion or attention of others

Question 18

How to deal with privacy

Answer 18

Don’t observe anyone without informed consent unless it’s in a public place

Question 19

What are the limitations of privacy

Answer 19

There’s no universal agreement as what constitutes a public place