Ethics
- Ethical considerations are in place to ensure the health and dignity of participants are protected during psychological research
- Researchers have to consider all ethical issues within research before it is conducted
- The British Psychological Society (BPS) has a published code of conduct that all psychologists must follow
- Ethical committees are in place at universities and research institutions to review proposed research and ensure they abide by the BPS code of conduct
The Code of Ethics
- Informed Consent
- Participants should have detailed information about the research to be able to make a informed decision about taking part in the research
- If participants are below the age of 16, parental consent needs to be gained
- Those who are under the influence of alcohol or drugs are not able to give formed consent
- Protection of Participants
- Participants must leave the research in the same physical and mental state they started it
- Participants must be protected from both physical and mental harm
- Avoidance of Deception
- If the participant is likely to object once they are debriefed, deception should not have happened
- Unless there is medical or scientific justification, participants should not be deceived
- When deception is needed in research, informed consent cannot be gained and instead consent still needs to be gained ethically, this can be gained by;
- Prior general consent, participants agree to be deceived but do not know how they will be deceived. This can effect participants behaviour as they are waiting to be deceived
- Presumptive consent, consent is gained from people who have a similar background to the participants and if they say they would have consented to take part, then it is deemed the actual participants would have also
- Retrospective consent, this requires asking the participants for formed consent after they research has taken place
- Anonymity/ Confidentiality
- Participants data should not be disclosed
- Numbers should be used instead of names
- Confidential data means it can be traced back to the participants
- Anonymous data means it cannot be traced back to the participants
- Briefing/Debriefing
- All relevant information should be adequately explained to participants both before and after the study takes place
- If deception has been used, the debrief is important to explain this and ensure participants understand the true reasons for the research
- Right to Withdraw
- Participants should be aware they have the right to withdraw from the study/research at any time, even after it has finished
- Incentives to Take Part
- Participants should not receive or offered bribes or promises to take part
- Observational Research
- Observations can only take place in public where people would expect to be observed by strangers
