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 don’t we just do what’s 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 • Can be withdrawn at any time, including during and after the study • NB: observational studies • NB: children (under 16yrs) psychlotron.org.uk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