Ethics

Question 1

what are ethical issues?

Answer 1

issues that ppts could face during the research that can affect them in many ways

Question 2

when do ethical issues arrise?

Answer 2

when there is conflict or dilemma exists between the rights of ppts and the researchers need to get valuable and meaningful findings

Question 3

deception meaning?

Answer 3

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

Question 4

valid consent meaning?

Answer 4

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

Question 5

protection of ppts meaning?

Answer 5

ppts should be protected psychologically (e.g. stress, humiliation, anxiety) and physically (pain). They must not be plavced at more risk than they would be in everday life

Question 6

risks to ppts values, beliefs, relationships, status meaning?

Answer 6

these are broader considerations of the impact of the research on ppts, such as if their attitudes or beliefs are challenged, or if the research damages their relationships with other ppl

Question 7

privacy meaning?

Answer 7

privacy is diff from confidentiality, privacy refers to the ppts keeping behaviours or attitudes secret due to their sensitive nature whereas confidentiality refers to ensuring their data is kept ananoymous

Question 8

confidentiality meaning?

Answer 8

enduring ppts details and data remain anonymous so they cannot be identified in the research. The researcher could use fake (pseudo) names/ initials or numbers

Question 9

how to deal with deception?

Answer 9

• Debrief - a post research intervew wherte the ppt is told the true aims and full details of the study r given
• ppts should also be given the right to withdraw from the research
• could obtain presumptive consent for the deception
• need for d shud b approved by ethics comittee
• ppts should be offered opport to discuss concerns & withold data from study

Question 10

valid consent is…

Answer 10

• voluntary
• informed
• with capacity to make a descision

Question 11

how to deal with valid consent?

Answer 11

• must offer right to withdraw, consent form
• ppts should be given a consent form detailing the true nature and aims of the study
• child under 16 or vunerable adult can’t give consent, must be obained from a guardian
• other ways to gain consent: 3P’s
• if consent wasn’t gained from ppts in the study, a debrief should be given and ppts cab give RETROSPECTIVE CONSENT

Question 12

What are the 3P’s (valid consent?

Answer 12

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 cosnent from ppts of things that COULD happen
3. Parental consent - where ppts are too young to give consent, it is gained from parents (under 16)

Question 13

phow to deal with protection from harm?

Answer 13

• right to withdraw - ppts should be offered the right to withdraw at any point udring or after the research
• debrief - reassure ppts that their bhvr is nomral - offer conselling to all ppts
• avoid any risks geater than exp in everday life
• stop study if harm suspected

Question 14

how to deal with risk to ppts values, beliefs, relationships, status or privacy?

Answer 14

• to avoid issues of privacy, ensure research like observations or filed studies are conducted in public spaces
• right to withdraw - if ppts feel their beliefs/ values are being challanged they should be offered the right to withdraw at any point during or after the resarch

Question 15

how to deal with confidentiality?

Answer 15

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

Question 16

working with animals?

Answer 16

• work within voundarie set by the animals scientific procedures) act 1986
• BPS require researchers to consider alternatives, such as computer simulations
• if using animas, bps members are ‘reminded of their general obligation to avoid at least minimise the discomfort to living animals’

Question 17

what is an ethics committee?

Answer 17

ethics committee of research insitituions review proposals to assess if the portantial benefits of the resarch are justifiable in the ligt of possible risks of physical/ psychological harm

Question 18

who is on an ethics committee?

Answer 18

memebers of the comittee include experrts in the field

Question 19

how do ethics committeees manage the risks of ehical issues?

Answer 19

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 20

what are the benefits of ethics comittees?

Answer 20

cmts are beneficial, as they are a second check that research is ethical, they ensure ppts rights are mmet and often involve indvs who represent the ppts

Question 21

what does the BPS do- what is their code of conduct?

Answer 21

• The BPS code of conduct are guidlines which are set out to British psychologists on what is and isn’t acceptable when carrying out research. It focuses on the four ethical principals of respect, competence, responsibility &integrity.

Question 22

what happens if reasercgers don’t follow BPS guidelines?

Answer 22

could b expelled from BPS and lose job

Question 23

valid consent - researcher P.O.V?

Answer 23

• revealing details may cause ppts to guess aims

Question 24

valid consent - Ppts P.O.V?

Answer 24

• ppt should be told of what r required to do so can make informed decision abt if they want to ppt
• even if researcher has obtained valid consent, doesn’t mean ppts fully understand what in for
• requirement for researcher to point out likely risks/ benefits - which rschrs not always able to acc predic.

Question 25

deception - researcher P.O.V?

Answer 25

- can be nec to deceive ppts abt true aims otheriwise ppts may alter behav and studies could be meaningless - a distiction shoudl be made between withholding some of the details of the research aims (resonably acc) and delib prov false info. (less acceptable)

Question 26

deception - ppt P.O.V?

Answer 26

- d = unethical - researcher should not deceive anyone without good cause. - prevents ppts from being able to give valid consent - may agree to ppt w/o really knowing what have let themselves in for, might be distressed bye exp - can also lead ppl to see psychologists as untrustworthy, won't want to volunteer again

Question 27

risk of harm (stress, anxiety, humiliation, pain)- researcher P.O.V?

Answer 27

- studying some of more imp ques in psy may involve a degree of risk - diff to predict outcome of certain procedures (Milgram Obedience study) so diff to guarantee protec from any risk of harm

Question 28

risk of harm (stress, anxiety, humiliation, pain)- ppt P.O.V?

Answer 28

- nothing shld happen to them during study that causes harm - many ways harm can be cause: physical (smoking) and psychological (feel inadequate) - acceptable if risk of harm is no greater than everyday life & if ppts in same state after study as b4 unless hv given valid consent to be treated otherwise

Question 29

confidentiality - researcher P.OV?

Answer 29

- May be diff to protect confid bc researcher wishes to publish findings - may guarantee anonymity (withholding ppt's names) but still may be obvs who has been involved in a study

Question 30

confidentiality - ppt P.OV?

Answer 30

- the Data Protection Act makes c a legal right. | - only acceptable for personal data to be recorded if data are not made aval. in a form that identifies ppts

Question 31

privacy - researcher P.O.V?

Answer 31

- may be diff to avoid invasion of p when studying ppts without their awareness. e.g. in field exper

Question 32

privacy - ppts P.O.V?

Answer 32

- ppts don't expect to be observed by others in certain situations, e.g. when at home, while they might expect this when sitting on a park bench in public

Question 33

when pts are asked to formally indicate their willingness to ppt in research, what should this be based on?

Answer 33

- info concerning nature of and purpose of the research and their role in it

Question 34

why might ppts choose not to withdraw? when is it not poss to offer this?

Answer 34

- ppts may feel shouldn't withdraw bc will spoil the study | - in many studies, ppts are paid/ rewarded and ma not feel able to withdraw

Question 35

how should a resarcher deal with decep?

Answer 35

- need for d shld be approved by an ethics committee, ppts should be debriefed after study ppts should eb ofered the oppor to discusss any concerns maty have , and to withhold data from study - retrospective valid consent form

Question 36

how should a researcher deal with protection frm harm?

Answer 36

- avoid any risk greater than exp in everyday life | - stop study if harm suspected

Question 37

how might researcher ensure confid?

Answer 37

- should not record names of any pts; use numvbers or false names

Question 38

how can a researcher ensure they don't breach a ppt's priv when conducting an observation?

Answer 38

- don't study anyone without their valid consent unless it's a public space and public behaviour (e.g. would exclude couple's intimate moments in park)

Question 39

explain right to withdraw

Answer 39

- if ppts feel uncomf or sitressed, they should be given r.t.w. - espec import if ppt has been decived abt aims and/ or procedures - hwr, if ppt has been fully informed, the actual ep of taking part may turn out to be rather diff, so should be able to withdraw

Question 40

why is debriefing used

Answer 40

- a post research interview - designed to inform ppts of the nature of the study + restore them to state they were in at start of study - may also be used to gain insightful feedback abt procedures - used to deal with ethical issues like decpetion and psychological harm and any unforseen psy harm

Question 41

dealing w valid consent disadvantages ?

Answer 41

- if ppt is given full info abt a study, might invalidate purpose - even if valid consent gained, dosn't mean they undertdtand what hv let emselves in fr - prblm with presumptive cosnent: what ppts expect will / won't mind might be diff from acc exp it

Question 42

dealing w deception disadvantages ?

Answer 42

- cost benefit decisions are flawed as involve subjc judgements and costs and/or benefits r not always apparent until after study - debriefing can't turn clock back - ppts may still feel embarassed and hv lowered self esteem

Question 43

dealing w risk of harm disadvantages ?

Answer 43

harm may not be app at time of study and only judged later with hindsight

Question 44

dealing w confidentiality disadvantages ?

Answer 44

sometimes poss to work out ppts were using info provided (e.g. geographical location of a school) - in pratic thfr, confid may not be poss

Question 45

dealing w priv disadvantages ?

Answer 45

no universal agreement abt what constitutes a public place

Question 46

risk to ppt's values, beliefs, relationships, status or priv makes psychologists think abt?

Answer 46

a broader considération of rthe impact their research may have on the ppt

Question 47

risk to ppt's values, beliefs, relationships, status or priv - what do resarchers have to ensure?

Answer 47

ppt's opinions and attitudes r not demeaned and/ or their associations with other ppl are not damaged by their pptation in the resarch. - their position within an organisation or society in general is not jeopardised

Question 48

risk to ppt's values, beliefs, relationships, status or priv - how can most of these elements be dealt with?

Answer 48

by ensuring that the priv of the ppts is mainained through adequate conidentiality arrangements

Question 49

working with vulnerable indivs - who does the british psychological society consider to be a vulnerable indiv?

Answer 49

- children under 16 - ppl with learning/ comm difficulties - patients in care - ppl in custody or on probation - ppl engaged in illegal activities such as drug abuse

Question 50

working with vulnerable indivs- why can we not gain valid consent from a vulnerable indiv?

Answer 50

- the vulnerable indiv may not be able to fully undertsand the reasons for the research and thfr not really be able to give 'informed consent' to ppt

Question 51

working with vulnerable indivs - who can give valid cosnent on behalf of the vunerable indiv?

Answer 51

the person legally rrsponsbible for the indiv such as parent or guardian

Question 52

working with animals - what do u have to have to be able to work with animals?

Answer 52

a license to work with abimals and research has to be lisencsed

Question 53

working with animals - what does the BPS Guidelines for Psychologists working with animals 2012 say?

Answer 53

BPS members r' reminded of their general obligation to avoid or at least minimise discomfort to living animals'

Question 54

working with animals - what alternatives to using animals are researchers asked to consider?

Answer 54

- computer simulations - if using animals is unavoidable, strict recommendations about factors such as the species type, care requirements ect that need to be met by r

Question 55

ethical guidelines evaluation?

Answer 55

- the 'rules and sanctions' approach is inevitably rather general bc of the virtual impossibility of covering every conecivable situation r may encounter - guidlines m=absolve reseracher from repson bc can say ' i followed guildines so my rearch is acceptable'