Ethical issues in research

1
Ethical issues in research

• What is an ethical issue?
• How do they arise?
• What can we do about them?
• What are the rules and regulations that we must
  follow (BPS guidelines)?

psychlotron.org.uk
2
Ethical issues

• Problems arising from conflict between
• What is necessary for our research
• Our moral obligations towards our PPs

psychlotron.org.uk
3
Practices that raise ethical issues

• Getting informed consent
• Deceiving PPs
• Putting PPs at elevated risk of harm
• Obtaining confidential information
• Invading PPs privacy

psychlotron.org.uk
4

• Why do we care so much about the well-being of
  the PPs? Why dont we just do whats good for
  our science?

psychlotron.org.uk
5
BPS Guidelines

• Guidelines issued by the British Psychological
  Society (or equivalent professional body e.g.
  APA)
• Clarify what is ethically acceptable in
  psychological research

psychlotron.org.uk
6
Informed consent

• PPs must be told about anything that might
  reasonably affect their willingness to
  participate (BPS, 1998).
• Can be withdrawn at any time, including during
  and after the study
• NB observational studies
• NB children (under 16yrs)

psychlotron.org.uk
7
Deception

• Should be avoided if at all possible, especially
  where it would raise other issues
• Will it cause stress?
• Would the PPs participate if they knew?
• APA only permissible where research is very
  important and no alternative method is available

psychlotron.org.uk
8
Risk of harm

• Risk should be no more than PPs expect in
  everyday life.
• Physical and psychological harm (e.g. stress,
  damage to self image)
• PPs should leave the study unchanged from how
  they entered it (NB debriefing)

psychlotron.org.uk
9
Confidentiality

• All data should be confidential, all PPs should
  be anonymous and unidentifiable unless prior
  informed consent given
• Can be problematic in case studies
• Procedures should routinely anonymise PPs (e.g.
  through use of numbers not recording names etc.)

psychlotron.org.uk
10
Privacy

• PPs right to privacy must be respected esp.
  since invasions of privacy may affect well-being
  and raise confidentiality issues
• Respect social cultural variability
• PPs may be unwilling to answer certain Qs.
• Observe only public behaviour in public places

psychlotron.org.uk
11
Briefing

• Before the study, researcher must obtain consent
  ensure PPs understand tasks etc.
• Explain nature of study invite participation
• Instruct PP about what is expected of them what
  will happen
• Confirm that they fully consent
• Explain that they can withdraw at any time, for
  any reason

psychlotron.org.uk
12
Debriefing

• After the study, researcher should ensure that
  PPs are returned to their initial state
  informed about the research they have
  participated in.
• Ensure no harm has occurred
• Obtain feedback about the study
• Widen public understanding of psychology

psychlotron.org.uk
13
Debriefing

• Explain the aims and nature of the study
• Explain any deceptions used
• Reassure the PPs about their performance or
  behaviour
• Offer retrospective withdrawal
• Get feedback
• Invite answer questions

psychlotron.org.uk