Informed Consent
autonomy and respect for participants’ rights
* informed about procedure and risks of study
* voluntary participation
* consent from legal guardians
full disclosure may compromise study validity
Deception
withholding or mispresenting information to participants to avoid demand characteristics which would compromise study validity, allows study of behaviour with reduced participant bias
* ethical only to maintain validity of study
* must not cause undue harm or stress
* debrief participants about deception
balance scientific validity with ethical obligations
Confidentiality
securing participants’ personal information and reporting results such that they are not publicly identifiable
protects participants from professional/social/legal reprocussions
- confidentiality = keeping personal information secure
- anonymity - not collecting personal information
legal obligation challenges confidentality
Debrief
explaining study purpose, procedure, findings and results
maintains integrity of psychological research
- no undue harm or distress
- informed of right to withdrawal
- retrospective consent is obtained
some studies require extended debriefing
Right to Withdrawal
participants can discontinue participation without penalty or consequence
ensures voluntary participation
- participants informed before study begins
- applies to both participation and data usage
participant attrition compromises data results
Protection from Harm
ensure the study does not expose participants to undue harm or stress
maintain integrity of psychological research
- researchers terminate trial if significant harm is detected
- measures to reduce psychological stress
- risk assessment necessary
unforeseen harm should be addressed promptly
True Experiment
- IV and DV are manipulated
- Control extraneous variables
- Random allocation to IV conditions
- Statistical Analysis
Focus Group
- Group interview with purposive sampled
- Facilitator keeps focus of discussion
- Qualitative, content analysis
- Prompt responses vis a vis
Naturalistic Observation
- Collect data in natural environment
- Observation checklist or field notes
- Inter-rater reliability
Semi-structured interview
- 1-to-1 interview
- Standardised list of questions does not need to be strictly followed
- Interviewer effects and social desirability
- Combination of rich qualitative data
Natural experiment
- IV is naturally occurring
- High mundane realism
- No random allocation
- Statistical analysis
Correlation
- Statistical analysis
- Two co-variables, often with secondary data
Quasi-Experiment
- IV is a predetermined trait
- Control extraneous variables
- No random allocaiton
- Statistical analysis
Survey/Questionnaire
- Written interviews
- Avoid interviewer effects
- Misinterpretation and contamination
- Quantitative/Qualitative
Unstructured Interview
- Well-trained researcher asks questions on general theme, highiy naturalistic
- Important to avoid leading questions
- Interviewer effects, social desirability
- Content analysis
