Research Methods -> Ethical Issues Flashcards
Deception
Active deception is deliberately lying to the participants whilst passive deception is withholding important information. Deception should be avoided wherever possible and only used when it’s scientifically justified – where the study would be meaningless otherwise.
Participants should be fully debriefed immediately after and allowed to withdraw their results.
Informed consent
this should be before the study begins and is when the participant agrees to take part in the study knowing what the aim and procedure is. The guidelines state participants should be given all information they need to decide whether to participate in research and should not be coerced or pressured. Some participants cannot give their informed consent such as children. In this case the parents should be give their informed consent for their children to participate.
Give a full brief to participants so they can give informed consent. If this would jeopardise the validity of the study they can be offered the right to withdrawhaving already taken part in the study.
Protection from psychological and physical harm
this means any negative emotion or any physical harm. The guidelines state researchers have a responsibility to protect participants during the study. Any risk of harm should be no greater than what the participant might experience in their normal life.
The procedure should be safe for participants. If physical dangers are possible, participants skilled and experienced in dealing with them should be recruited so they are under no greater risk than normal. If unexpected risks arise the study should be stopped.
Confidentiality
this means keeping information private and all participants should remain anonymous so that they cannot be recognised
Participants’ names should not be recorded or, if essential for contacting them again, should be stored separately from their data. Numbers or pseudonyms should be used instead. e recognised.
Privacy
People do not to expect to have their privacy invaded at any time unless they have consented to it.
Observations should only be done in public places, not where people expect to be in private. Participants can be asked afterwards for their retrospective consent or allowed to withdraw their data.
