Research Methods – Ethics

Question 1

Ethics

Answer 1

A key parts of psychological investigation for researchers to ensure that their practice is morally correct
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Ill practice can lead to being banned from practice as a psychologist

Question 2

BPS code of ethics

Answer 2

A set of guidelines which are given by the British psychological society for anyone carrying out psychological research in the UK

Question 3

Informed consent

Answer 3

Participants must be briefed on the objectives of the investigation and what is required of them
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They must consent with no pressure involved

Question 4

How to deal with informed consent

Answer 4

Brief the participants on the aims, procedure and their role within the experiment
Be directly asked to participate (consent forms)

Question 5

Right to withdraw

Answer 5

Before giving consent they are told they can leave it any point during the experiment
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No reasoning is needed when slash if the participant leaves

Question 6

How to deal with right to withdraw

Answer 6

Make participants aware throughout the experiment (briefing» experiment» debriefing) they can leave
No penalty will be given when/if they do so

Question 7

Confidentiality

Answer 7

Participants should remain anonymous

Question 8

How to deal with confidentiality

Answer 8

Do not take any details from the participants that are not relevant to the study

Question 9

Deception

Answer 9

For some experiments the participants cannot know the aims of the experiment or even know that they are in an experiment for true data
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This emphasizes the need for a debrief

Question 10

How to deal with deception

Answer 10

Be as open and as honest as possible with clients
Must reveal deception in the debrief
Clients can give/withdraw consent for their information to be used in the study

Question 11

Protection from harm

Answer 11

Ensure that participants do not suffer any physical harm or emotional distress (pre-approved ethics reduced this)
Debriefing must occur to ensure wellness of participants and offer support if needed

Question 12

How to deal with protection from harm

Answer 12

Participants must be fully aware of how they have been observed/judged in the study
Participants leave feeling the same as the entered
Support can be offered

Question 13

Debriefing

Answer 13

After a study participants are told the true motivations of the study and information collected about the individual participants
Used specifically when deception is involved

Question 14

How to deal with debriefing

Answer 14

Can be verbal or written
Include explanation and any ethical issues

Question 15

How to remember ethical issues

Answer 15

Can - informed consent
Do - deception
Can’t - confidentiality
Do - debrief
With - right to withdraw
Participants - protection from harm