Ethics

Question 1

what are some ethical challenges for scientists/psychologists?

Answer 1

• Research conduct
• Participants/Subjects (humans & animals)
• Data collection, handling and publication
• Conflicts of interest
• Public relations
• Application of psychological knowledge

Question 2

what are ethics?

Answer 2

• The standards for what are the ‘right’ and ‘wrong’ things do.

Question 3

what are deontological ethics? Immanuel Kant 1724-1804

Answer 3

• ‘duty-’ or ‘rights-based’ ethics. Actions are considered ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ depending on whether they are consistent with the ‘duties’ of the agent and the ‘rights’ of those affected by the actions.

Question 4

what are consequentialist ethics? Jeremy Bentham 1748-1832

Answer 4

‘outcome-based’ ethics. Actions are considered ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ following the ‘weighing’ of their positive and negative outcomes. Example: utilitarianism, aiming to achieve maximal happiness for the greatest number.

Question 5

what are the guidelines for research involving human participants?

Answer 5

Guiding principles:
Autonomy and protection of the human participant

Question 6

what are the four primary ethical principles according to the BPS code of ethics and conduct?

Answer 6

• Respect
• Competence
• Responsibility
• Integrity

Question 7

BPS ethical principles for research with human participants

Answer 7

• Respect for autonomy, privacy and dignity of participants
• Harm to participants must be avoided and all risks carefully assessed
• Informed consent
• Debriefing

Question 8

Guidelines for research involving animals

Answer 8

The Three Rs (Russel & Burch, 1956):
- ‘Refinement’, i.e. reduction in severity of inhumane procedures
- ‘Reduction’ in the number of animals used
- ‘Replacement’ of highly sentient animals whenever possible

Animal welfare: husbandry must meet animals’ needs

• Animal research is only permitted if performed in ‘designated establishments’, under the remit of ‘project licences’ by researchers that have completed accredited training programmes to obtain a ‘personal licence’. Designation certificates and licences are controlled by the Home Office.
• Primates, cats, dogs and horses have extra protection as compared to other vertebrates.

Question 9

what is a conflict of interest?

Answer 9

Any situation in which financial or personal considerations have potential to compromise scientific or professional conduct.
e.g. Researcher may financially benefit from specific research outcome.
Peer-reviewer wants to get research funded/published that is very similar to the one they assess.

Question 10

decelerations of conflicts of interest

Answer 10

• Conflicts of interest are common. To minimize any negative impact, such conflicts should always be carefully considered and be dealt with openly.
• Many academic journals and funding agencies require a ‘declaration of commercial/financial conflicts of interest’ from authors, applicants for funding, and peer reviewers.
  Peer-reviewer has personal relation to author or applicant.
  Examiner has personal relation to examinee.