Research Methods - Ethics

Question 1

What do researchers need to make sure they balance when doing a study?

Answer 1

That they are respecting participants rights but that the study is actually worthwhile.

Question 2

What are the 4 major ethical issues?

Answer 2

Informed consent.
Deception.
Protection from harm.
Privacy and confidentiality.

Question 3

What is the issue of informed consent?

Answer 3

Informed consent is making the participants aware of the aims of the research, the procedures, their rights and what the data will be used for.
However, giving this info so that the participants can give informed consent may reduce the internal validity and increase any demand characteristics.

Question 4

What is the issue of deception?

Answer 4

This is deliberately misleading or withholding info from participants which is an issue as then they cannot give informed consent.
However, sometimes it can be justified as it won’t distress the participants but will preserve the internal validity by reducing demand characteristics as behaviour is more natural if they don’t know the true aims of the study.

Question 5

What is the issue of protection from harm?

Answer 5

Participants should be protected from physical, mental etc harm and should not experience anything more harmful than they would in everyday life.

Question 6

What is the issue of privacy and confidentiality?

Answer 6

Data from the study can be released but any info about the participants must be kept private under the Data Protection Act.

Question 7

What is the BPS Code?

Answer 7

The British Psychological Society code of conduct clarifies that researchers have a professional duty to observe ethical guidelines. The code is built around 4 principles: respect, competence, responsibility and integrity.

Question 8

How can researchers deal with informed consent?

Answer 8

Issue a consent letter of form for participants to sign.
Must include all relevant info that will affect their decision to participate.
For-16’s, parents must consent.

Question 9

How can researchers deal with deception and protection from harm?

Answer 9

Provide a full debrief, including studys true aims and other unsupplied info.
They should be told what the data will be used for.
They should be given the right to withdraw during the study and the right to withhold data.
Participants should be provided with counselling if required, and gratitude for their participation.

Question 10

How can researchers deal with confidentiality?

Answer 10

Protect personal details or not record them in the first place…maintain anonymity.