Ethics

Question 1

Deception

Answer 1

Deception is when the ppts are not told the true AIMS of the study deliberately and/or are misled as to one or more aspects of the study.

Question 2

Rusk to participates values beliefs relationships status or privacy

Answer 2

These are broader considerations of the impact of the research on the Ppts, such as if their attitudes or beliefs are challenged, or if the research damages their relationships with other people.
Privacy is different from confidentiality, privacy refers the Pts keeping behaviours or attitudes secret due to their sensitive nature Whereas confidentiality refers to ensuring their data is kept anonymous.

Question 3

Valid consent

Answer 3

Where ppts are asked to give permission to take part in the study and should know the nature of the study.

Question 4

Risk of stress anxiety humiliation or pain (psychological harm )

Answer 4

Ppts should be protected psychologically (e.g. stress, humiliation or anxiety) and physically (pain). They must not be placed at more risk than they would be in everyday life.

Question 5

Confidentiality

Answer 5

Ensuring ppts details and data remain anonymous so they cannot be identified in the research. The researcher could use fake (pseudo names) names/initials e.g. Genie

Question 6

How to deal with deception

Answer 6

Debrief - a post research interview where the Ppt is told the true aims and nature of the research and full details of the study are given.
Ppts should also be given the right to withdraw their data from the research.
Could obtain presumptive consent for the deception.

Question 7

How to deal with valid consent

Answer 7

Participants should be given a consent form detailing the true
Valid consent
Valid consent is…
• voluntary
• informed
• with capacity to make a decision
nature and aims of the study.
A child under 16 or vulnerable adult cannot give their consent and it must be obtained from a guardian.
There are other ways to gain consent - the 3 P’s
1. Presumptive consent - this is gaining consent from a similar set of ppts who won’t actually be doing the study.
2. Prior informed consent - getting general consent from ppts of things that ‘could’ happen.
3. Parental consent - when ppts are too young to give consent this is gained from parents. (under 16)
If consent wasn’t gained from the Ppts in the study a debrief should be given and Ppts can give retrospective consent.

Question 8

How to deal with risk of stress anxiety humiliation or pain (psychological harm )

Answer 8

Right to withdraw - Ppts should be offered the right to withdraw at any point during or after the research.
Debrief - reassure the Ppts that their behaviour is normal - offer counselling to all Ppts.

Question 9

How to deal with risk to participants values beliefs relationships status or privacy

Answer 9

To avoid issues of privacy ensure research such as observations or field studies are conducted in a public spaces.
Right to withdraw - If Ppts feel their beliefs or values are being challenged they should be offered the right to withdraw at any point during or after the research

Question 10

How to deal with confidentiality

Answer 10

Participants identities should be kept anonymous e.g. use of numbers, initials or fake names.

Question 11

Working with animals

Answer 11

Working with animals - work within the boundaries set by the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act
1986
BPS require researchers to consider alternatives, such as computer simulations. If using animals BPS members are reminded of their general obligation to avoid at least minimise discomfort to living animals’ (Guidelines for Psychologists Working with Animals, 2012)

Question 12

What is an ethics committee

Answer 12

Ethics Committees of research institutions, such as universities or hospitals, review research proposals to assess if the potential benefits of the research are justifiable in the light of possible risk of physical or psychological harm.

Question 13

Who is on an ethics committee

Answer 13

Members of the committee include exerts in the field along with lay people

Question 14

How do ethics committee manage the risk of ethical issues

Answer 14

These committees may request researchers make changes to the study’s design or procedure, or in extreme cases deny approval of the study altogether.

Question 15

What are the benefits of ethics committees

Answer 15

Committees are beneficial, as they provide a second check that research is ethical, they ensure participants rights are met and often involve individuals who represent the participants (i.e. lay people)

Question 16

What are ethical guidelines

Answer 16

Ethical guidelines provide a set of recommendations about how psychologists should and should not conduct research ethically, such as gaining valid consent.

Question 17

Who produces ethical guidelines

Answer 17

Ethical guidelines are published by the governing bodies of psychology, such as the British Psychological Society (BPS) in the UK or the American Psychological Association (APA) in the
USA

Question 18

How do ethical guidelines mange the risk of ethical issues

Answer 18

Ethical guidelines provide a set of standards for psychologists to follow when carrying out research. Everyone who is a member of the BPS has to follow their guidelines or they may risk being censured by the BPS, this could include being expelled which may result in loss of position or status.

Question 19

What are the benefits of ethics ethical guidelines

Answer 19

Current BPS guidelines ensure the respect autonomy, privacy and dignity of individuals and communities involved in psychological research. They also protect the good name of psychology.