Ethical= adhering to moral principals
Ethics= concerned with what is right or acceptable in pursuit of a given goal
Ethical Guidelines= concrete, legal documents established to ensure psychologists conduct their experiment adhering to principles for standard practice and conductance. It informs psychologists of what behaviours are unacceptable and how to overcome ethical dilemmas.
Ethics= concerned with what is right or acceptable in pursuit of a given goal
Ethical Guidelines= concrete, legal documents established to ensure psychologists conduct their experiment adhering to principles for standard practice and conductance. It informs psychologists of what behaviours are unacceptable and how to overcome ethical dilemmas.
(Informed) Consent= where ps know the objective of the study, so they can agree to take part.
Consent is especially an issue where children are being studied or people who are unable to give their own consent (e.g someone with serious brain damage)
E.g Milgram, Piliavin, Griffiths, Bandura, Resolved by: ask ps to sign a consent form, put posters up about the study that will be conducted |
Right to Withdraw= ps need to know from the start that they can withdraw from the experiment at any time and have their data destroyed (unless already published), regardless of any payment given to the ps for doing the study
- = not all ps stay til the end, less data if ps wish to have it destroyed E.g Piliavin, Bandura- children encouraged to stay in Room 3, Milgram-ps not aware had R to W: prompts, payment Resolved by: telling the ps they can leave the study whenever they wish |
Confidentiality= ps and the data they provide must be kept anomalous unless the ps has given their full consent. If the ps is dissatisfied after debriefing, they can demand to have their data destroyed
E.g very important in case studies, Freud, Thigpen and Cleckley Resolved by: do not give any personal data of ps or their name unless they give their consent |
Protection of ps= the primary responsibility of the experiment is to protect the ps from mental and physical harm. The risk should be no more than ordinary life. This issue is raised when we research behaviours of interest.
E.g Milgram (obedience), Freud (intrusive questioning-may have caused harm/long-term effects) Resolved by: have an ethical committee to ensure protection of ps kept |
Observational research (Privacy)= must respect the privacy and psychological well-being of the ps studied. This means observing ps where they would expect to be observed in a public place, like in a park or shopping center; not in their homes.
+ = high Ecol valid as don't know being observed, so act naturally, no SDB or DCs - = intruding privacy E.g greater issue with studying intimate behaviour in interpersonal behaviour than studying crowd behaviour Resolved by: only observe ps where they would expect to be studied, in public places |