Ethical issues

Question 1

A dilemma

Answer 1

When a conflict exists between the rights of participants and the aims of the research. BPS code of conduct is a quasi-legal document to protect participants. It is based on four principles: Respect, competence, responsibility and integrity. Ethics committees weight up costs and benefits before deciding whether a study should go ahead

Question 2

Informed consent

Answer 2

Get permission for experiment. Being informed may reveal aims but participants need informed judgement whether to take part. Sign consent, where appropriate seek parental consent. Presumptive-ask a similar group
Prior general- agree to be deceived
Retrospective-get consent after the study

Question 3

Deception

Answer 3

Deliberately misleading or withholding information means that consent is not informed, but mild deception is okay. At end participants should be given debrief. In debrief, true aims of investigation, details that were not given in study, what their data will be used for, and their right to withhold data

Question 4

Protection from harm

Answer 4

Participants should be at no more risk than they would be in everyday life, nor should they feel stressed or embarrassed.
Should be given right to withdraw at every stage of the research process
Should be reassured that their behavior was typical of others
Counselling should be provided if participants were distressed

Question 5

Privacy and confidentiality

Answer 5

We have right to control information about ourselves. Confidentiality should be respected. If personal details are held these must be protected. Usually no personal details are recorded.
Researchers refer to participants using numbers, initials or false names.
Participants personal data cannot be shared with other researchers