Ethics (DM)

Question 1

The British Psychological Society
BPS

Answer 1

give guidelines in the UK about ethics for human or animal studies

Question 2

Ethical issues = conflicts

Answer 2

Guidelines = resolutions

Question 3

Human ethical guidlines

Answer 3

1) informed consent
2) deception
3) confidentiality
4) right to withdraw
5) protection from harm

Question 4

Informed consent

Answer 4

-getting written consent that they agree to take part in the study
-under 16s need to get parental consent
-they get a brief about the details of the study

HOWEVER! When dealing with a lack of informed consent:
Presumptive consent- asking a similar group if they think it is acceptable
Prior general consent- participants consent to a number of studies without knowing which one will have deception in
Retrospective consent- ask for consent during a debrief after the study

Question 5

Deception

Answer 5

-researchers should not lie to or mislead their participants
! it may be necessary to lie to participants to maintain the validity of the study

HOWEVER! When dealing with deception:
Debrief and explain the deception to participants at the end of the study

Question 6

Confidentiality

Answer 6

-all participants’ data remains confidential
-no personal info should be published and should be anonymised
-should not be possible to identify participants in the study when reading research reports
! in one person case studies it is not possible to keep the person anonymous and consent must be gained

We must:
-allocate participants an acronym, number or pseudonym

Question 7

Right to withdraw

Answer 7

-they can stop taking part at ANY point in the study as well as withdraw their data at the end of the study
! if needed for the validity of the study, participants may not be aware they are in a study and thus cannot be made aware of their right to withdraw until AFTER the study

Question 8

Protection from harm

Answer 8

-researchers should not do anything that causes more harm than could reasonably be expected in everyday life
-including physical & psychological harm
-avoid long term harm to participants

Question 9

Debriefing after a study

Answer 9

Participants should be:
-made aware of what the study was about
-reassure them that their behaviour was normal
-offer counselling if needed for after stress or embarrassment
-made aware of their right to withdraw

Question 10

Writing a study brief/ consent form

Answer 10

study title
researcher name
purpose of study/aim
participation involves…
5 ethical assurances
consent statement
details of the participant
signature line