Research methods: Ethical Issues

Question 1

What are ethical issues ?

Answer 1

These arise when a conflict exists between the rights of participants in research studies and the goals of the researcher to produce authentic, valid data

Question 2

Definition of confidentiality

Answer 2

A participants right to have personal information protected

Question 3

Deception definition

Answer 3

Where a participant is not told the true aims of the study

Question 4

Informed consent definition

Answer 4

Participants have the right to be given information concerning the nature and purpose of the research and their role in it in order that they can make an informed decision about whether to participate

Question 5

Protection from harm definition

Answer 5

During research study, participants should not experience negative physical or psychological effects such as physical injury, lowered self esteem or embarrassment

Question 6

Right to with draw definition

Answer 6

Participants should have the right withdraw from the study if they are uncomfortable in any way they also have the right to refuse permission for the researcher to use any data they produced

Question 7

Anonymity

Answer 7

A participants right to remain nameless

Question 8

Competency definition

Answer 8

The capacity for the researcher to deal professionally with issues that arise during the course of the program

Question 9

What are the BPS code of ethics

Answer 9

A quasi legal document produced by British psychological society that instructs psychologists in the uk about what behaviour is and is not acceptable when dealing with participants

Question 10

What is the BPS code of ethics built around

Answer 10

Respect
Competence
Responsibility
Integrity

Question 11

Who implements the BPS’ ethical guidelines?

Answer 11

Ethics committees in research institutions

Question 12

What do ethics committees use to determine whether research proposals are ethically acceptable

Answer 12

Cost- benefit approach

Question 13

How do you obtain informed consent

Answer 13

A signed consent letter or form detailing relevant information that might affect their decision

Question 14

What is presumptive consent

Answer 14

Rather than getting consent from the participants themselves a similar group of people are asked if the study is acceptable. If this group agree the consent of the original participants is resumed

Question 15

Prior general consent

Answer 15

Participants give their permission to take part in a number of different studies- including one that will involve deception by consenting they consent to the study

Question 16

Retrospective consent

Answer 16

Participants are asked for their consent (during debriefing) having already taken part in study. They may not be aware of their participation or they may have been subject to deception

Question 17

What details should participants be made aware of regarding the study during debrief

Answer 17

True sims of the investigation

Any details they were not supplied with ( other groups or experimental conditions)

Question 18

Why should participants be told their data is being used for

Answer 18

Because they have the right to withhold data if they wish

Question 19

What is the right to withhold data ?

Answer 19

The right to withhold data is when the participant does not want their data to be used

Question 20

When is right to withdraw particularly important?

Answer 20

In retrospective consent

Question 21

If participants are not leaving in the same state they arrived what should be offered?

Answer 21

Counselling which the researcher should provide

Question 22

Why does sometimes informed consent make the study meaningless?

Answer 22

Because participants behaviour will not be natural as they know the aims of the study

Question 23

What cases can deception be justified ?

Answer 23

If it does not cause the participant undue distress