Aims and objectives 1. Be able to describe 6 ethical issues in psychological research 2. Know how to deal with these 6 issues 3. Know the limitations of dealing with these ethical issues Diff learning: What would be the implications for psychology if these ethical issues were not addressed?

Why do psychologists need a code of ethics? What are the ethics of using animals in psychological studies?

Needs of researchers Vs protection of participants Middlemist, Knowles and Matter (1976)  Read and write down what is wrong ethically with this study. Time to complete:

6 key ethical issues Privacy Confidentiality Deception Right to withdraw Informed consent Protection from harm Re-read the Middlemist study on the previous page. Which of these ethical issues does it raise?

Privacy Confidentiality Deception Right to withdraw Informed consent Protection from harm

Whenever possible, the investigator should inform all Pp’s of the objective of the investigation. Parental consent should be obtained in the case of children (Under 16 yrs) Diff learning: Consent should also be obtained from children who are old enough to understand the study

Did the researcher gain informed consent in this study? Diff.learning Apply your knowledge of sampling here. What type of sample was used? What are the +/-’s of this type of sample?

Informed consent means … Diff.learning: what problems might you encounter even if you did obtain informed consent from your Pp’s?

Pp’s should always be aware that they can leave the study at anytime, regardless of whether or not payment or inducement has been offered Diff. learning: This can be particularly difficult to implement during observations. Diff. learning ²: Pp’s should also be aware that they can withdraw their data at any point in the future

Time to complete: Diff.learning: what type of research is this study? What are the +/- ’s of this research?

Informed consent Whenever possible, the investigator should inform all Pp’s of the objective of the investigation. Right to withdraw Pp’s should always be aware that they can leave the study at anytime, regardless of whether or not payment or inducement has been offered

Watch this piece of research, how would you feel if you were a Pp?

If participants are deceived, they should be fully debriefed after the study. This is a short interview, participants are told the full aims of the study and informed they can withdraw their data. They are given the opportunity to ask questions Diff. learning: Debriefing does not provide a justification for any unethical aspects of the procedure Diff: learning²: Following the debrief the Pp’s should leave the study feeling the same (or better) about themselves than when they started the study

Informed consent Right to with draw Deception What’s left? (PC DRIP)

How much harm can we cause Pp’s? Yes or No; Could we make the Pp think they have giving enough electric shocks to kill someone? Could we make a baby cry? Could we take blood samples from a Pp? Could we make doctors look unprofessional, and unable to recognise schizophrenic patients?

Studies should be designed so that participants come to no more harm than they would do in their day to day lives. Diff. learning: How could this be judged? Is it compared to the danger a solider, Ofsted inspector or a monk faces?

Includes physical AND psychological harm

Write your answer on the white boards and swap with another couple for marking Remember…

P- C- D- R- I- P-

Researchers should use fake names or numbers instead of participant names. Diff. learning: Sometimes it may be possible to work out who participants were on the basis of information contained in the study (geographical location for example)

Researchers should use fake names or numbers instead of participant names. What is the name of this person? Diff. learning: Could you find out her real name? Has this person given informed consent, been deceived or given the right to withdraw?

Observations should only be made in public places where people might expect to be seen by strangers Diff. learning: Gain prior consent for observations where appropriate. However retrospective consent should be sought.

Watching children in a play ground from the road? Viewing cctv footage on www? Observing a crowd at a football match, when the spectators have paid to go into the ground? Observing your peers over lunch?

Diff.learning: When would a researcher be justified in invading a Pp’s privacy? Time to complete:

Look at the options at the end of the hand out fill in the blanks IssueHow to deal with itLimitations Informed consent Participants are asked to formally agree to take part in a study (usually with a consent form) after being given comprehensive information about the nature and purpose of the study, and their role in it. Right to withdraw Participants may feel like they cannot leave as they don’t want to spoil the study. Deception Protection from harm Studies should be designed so that participants come to no more harm than they would do in their day to day lives. Confidential ity Researchers should use fake names or numbers instead of participant names. PrivacyThere is no universal agreement on what a public place is. Some people may still object to being observed in public.

IssueHow to deal with itLimitations Informed consent Participants are asked to formally agree to take part in a study (usually with a consent form) after being given comprehensive information about the nature and purpose of the study, and their role in it. If participants are given too much information, it may invalidate the results of the study. Participants may agree to take part in the study, but still not completely understand what they have let themselves in for. Right to withdraw Researchers make it clear that participants are free to leave at any time during a study. If participants are being paid, they will still receive payment even if they withdraw Participants may feel like they cannot leave as they don’t want to spoil the study. DeceptionIf participants are deceived, they should be fully debriefed after the study. This is a short interview after where participants are told the full aims of the study and are given the opportunity to ask questions If a participant has suffered stress or anxiety during a study due to deception, a debrief may not undo the damage which has already been done.