Ethics

Question 1

Ethical issues

Answer 1

In terms of research, ethics are the moral principles, which guide research. They involve the rights of the participants and the responsibilities of the researchers. Avoid making the mistake of confusing ethical issues (problems) with ethical guidelines (solutions).

Ethical issues occur when there is a dilemma between what the researcher wants to do and the right of the participants. Concern with ethical issues in psychology research was influenced by the regard for human rights following WW2 and controversial experiments in the 1960s and 70s.

Question 2

Dealing with ethical issues

Answer 2

As a result, professional associations of psychologists in a number of countries produced ‘codes of conduct’ (ethical guidelines), which ensure ethical issues are addressed. In the UK, in 1978, the BPS published its ‘Ethical Principles for Research on Human Subjects’ (ethical guidelines), revised in 1990, further amended in 1992, and republished in 1993, 1998 and 2000.

BPS code of ethics is a semi-legal document produced by the British Psychological Society (BPS) that instructs psychologists in the UK about what behaviour is and is not acceptable when dealing with participants. It is built around 4 major principles: respect, competence, responsibility and integrity.

Question 3

Dealing with ethical issues

Answer 3

• Ethics are determined by a balance between ends and means; Cost-benefit analysis. Certain things are more acceptable than others but, what if the ultimate end is for the good of the humankind?
• Ethics committees; groups of people within a research institution that must approve the study before it begins. It is this group of people who weigh up the costs and benefits of research proposals to decide whether the research study should go ahead.
• Punishment; a psychologist that behaves in an unethical manner may be barred from practising as a psychologist.

Question 4

What are the 3 main ethical issues?

Answer 4

1. Informed consent
2. Deception
3. Protection from harm

Question 5

Informed consent

Answer 5

Participants should agree to take part. Competent and Voluntary judgement. Participants should know the objectives of the research in general terms before they take part, (no need to know the hypothesis). (Nature of the study, field experiments, retrospective case studies, vulnerable participants, eg. children, mental health conditions, people under authority).

Question 6

Methods for dealing with informed consent

Answer 6

• Presumptive consent - informing a sample of the population to e studied, if they agree it can be presumed that the rest of the population would.
• Prior general consent - participants agree to take part once they have been informed about deception sometimes taking place in research.
• Children as participants, gain consent of the parent or those in ‘loco parentis’.
• Participants may provide Informed Consent Retrospectively. During debriefing, ppts should be offered the opportunity to withhold their data.

Question 7

Debriefing

Answer 7

Debriefing involves full disclosure; telling participants what really happened after it has taken place. If the participants experience any negative feelings, they are given reassurance and support. However, many participants may be reluctant to express their feelings during debriefing. Debriefing does not justify unethical aspects.

Question 8

Deception

Answer 8

Deception of participants over the purpose and nature of the study should be avoided. Deception is an ethical issue because it prevents participants giving informed consent. However, in certain cases deception is unavoidable (opinion divided).

Question 9

Methods for dealing with deception

Answer 9

• Consult with colleagues about possible effects.
• Consider alternative procedures (eg. role play).
• Provide immediate debriefing (retrospective consent).

Question 10

Protection from harm

Answer 10

Participants must not be caused any harm (physical or psychological). No research participant should leave a research study in a different state from the one at the beginning. Any degree acceptable? Possible to assess beforehand?

Protection from harm includes anonymity/confidentiality. Anonymity/confidentiality should be the norm. Information and identity of participants must remain confidential. Participants should be identified by numbers or initials. Privacy becomes an issue when individuals are unaware that they are acing as participants, (eg. field experiments, and natural experiments).

Question 11

Methods for dealing with protection from harm

Answer 11

• Participants have the right to withdraw from study at any time and should be made aware before the study takes place.
• Researcher is responsible for terminating the research.
• Debriefing important.

Question 12

Ethical issues

Answer 12

• Can - Confidentiality - your data stays private
• Do - Deception - cannot lie
• Can’t - Consent - informed permission to use your data
• Do - Debrief - tell you what the aim of the study was and how the data will be used
• With - Withdraw - ppts can leave at any time and then their data will be disposed
• Participants - Protection from harm - psychological and physical (includes animals. What animal is being used has to also be considered)