W5 - Ethics Flashcards
What is meant by ethics?
- Ethics involves systematising, defending, and providing standards by which behaviour can be judged to be right or wrong
- Normative ethics: the practical task of arriving at moral standards that regulate right and wrong conduct
What are the distinct approaches to ethics?
- Consequentialism – the rightness or wrongness of an act depends upon its consequences
-> Utilitarianism – emphasises the role of pleasure or happiness as a consequence of our actions - Deontology (Duty) – certain acts are right or wrong in themselves, not necessarily in terms of their consequences
-> categorical imperative
Example case study: stuttering as a learned behaviour
What is meant by psychological egoism?
self-oriented interests ultimately motivate all
human actions
What are the two ethical codes in use today?
- WHO - Declaration of Helsinki
- BPS
- Code of Ethics and Conduct
- Code of Human Research Ethics
What are the 4 ethical principles of BPS Code of Ethics and Conduct?
- Respect
- Competence
- Responsibility
- Integrity
What are the 4 ethical principles of BPS Code of Human Research Ethics?
- Respect for the autonomy and dignity of persons
- Scientific value
- Social Responsibility
- Maximising benefit and minimising harm
What are the key practical considerations in psychological research?
- Risk
- Valid consent
- Confidentiality
- Giving advice
- Deception
- Debriefing
- Professionalism
What considerations are needed to account for “Risk”?
Definition: potential physical or psychological harm, discomfort or stress
Responsibility to
1. Identify potential risks
2. Develop protocols for risk management
3. Inform participants of any risks
Examples of common risk:
- Vulnerable groups
- Sensitive topics
- Significant deception
- Access to personal or confidential information
- Psychological stress, anxiety, humiliation
- Invasive interventions, or > minimal pain
What considerations are needed to account for “Valid consent”?
Informed Consent involves at least 2 stages:
1. inform about nature of study
2. obtaining their written agreement to take part (exception: public records, field research)
Participant information form describes:
1. The nature of the study
2. Any potential risks or inconveniences
3. Ensuring anonymity or confidentiality of data
4. Right to withdraw at any time.
Who cannot give consent?
1. Children <16 yrs old: legal parental consent
2. Adults with psychological or medical complications -> lack capacity to consent when unable to:
- understand the information to make decision
- retain the information
- use or weigh the information
- communicate his/her decision (by any means)
What considerations are needed to account for “Confidentiality”?
- Ideally research allows complete anonymity
- If there is any reason to breach confidentiality, this should be agreed with Ps in advance of participation
- Information provided by Ps in research should not be divulged to any outside source
What considerations are needed to account for “Giving advice”?
- Giving advice is ethical if:
- it is an intrinsic part of the study
- it has been agreed with the participant in advance
- it has been subject to ethics review in advance - If you obtain evidence of problems unexpectedly:
- Duty to inform participant IF failing to do so endangers the participants future wellbeing
- Should identify risk of such evidence emerging - If a participant asks for advice caution should be exercised
- NEVER offer an opinion outside of professional expertise
What considerations are needed to account for “Deception”?
- Participants have the right not to be deceived unnecessarily
- 2 types of deception:
1. Commission – actively misleading
2. Omission – failing to disclose all details - Beware of accidental deception (e.g. misunderstanding, misrepresentation of time required)
What considerations are needed to account for “Debriefing”?
- Responsibility of research where deception has been employed
- To ensure Ps are provided with sufficient information to fully understand the nature of the research at the earliest opportunity
- Debriefing is an active intervention
- Purposes of debriefing:
1. Providing information to P about their role in the study both before and after they participate
2. Attempts to reduce any distress by the study
What considerations are needed to account for “Professionalism”?
- Researchers have the responsibility to report with honesty and accuracy the results of their studies.
- Researchers must also ensure that they give credit to the original sources of ideas
