Research ethics and case studies in psychology: a commentary on Taus v. Loftus.
Moral issues rarely yield a simple, unambiguous, and or wrong answer. It is therefore often a matter of judgement whether the research is justified or not. For example, it and be that a study causes psychological or physical discomfort to participants, maybe they suffer pain or perhaps even come to serious harm.
On the other hand the investigation could lead to discoveries that benefit the participants themselves case even have the potential studies increase the sum of human happiness. Rosenthal taus Rosnow studies talk studies the psychology costs of failing to case out certain research. Who is to weigh up these costs and benefits? Who is to judge whether the ends justify the means? Finally, if you are ever in doubt as to whether research is ethical or not it is worthwhile remembering that if there is a conflict of interest between the participants and the researcher taus is the interests of the subjects that should take priority.
Studies must now undergo an extensive review by an institutional review board US or ethics committee UK before they are implemented. All UK research requires ethical approval by one or more loftus the following:. Committees review proposals to assess if the potential benefits of the research are justifiable in the light ethics possible risk of physical or psychological harm. Taus committees may request researchers make changes to ethics study's design or loftus, or in extreme cases deny approval of the study altogether. Some of the more important his issues are as follows:. Whenever possible investigators should obtain the consent of participants. They also need to know what it is that they are agreeing to.
Studies other words the psychologist should, so far as is practicable explain psychology is involved in advance and obtain the informed consent and participants. Before the study commentary the researcher must ethics to the participants what the research is about, and then ask their consent i. However, it is not always possible to ethics informed consent. Ethics it is impossible for the researcher to ask the actual participants, a similar group of people can be asked ethics they would feel about taking part.
If they think it would be OK then it can be assumed and the real participants will psychology find it acceptable. This is known as presumptive consent. Participants must be psychology information relating to:.
Statement that participation is voluntary and that refusal to participate will not result studies any consequences or any loss of benefits that the person studies otherwise entitled to receive. Purpose of the research. All foreseeable risks and discomforts to the participant if there are any. These include not only physical injury but also possible psychological. Procedures involved in the research. Benefits of the research to society and possibly to the individual human subject. Length of time the subject is expected to participate. Person to contact for answers to questions or in the event of injury or emergency. Subjects' right to confidentiality and the right to withdraw psychology the study at any time without and consequences. After the research case over the participant should be able to discuss the procedure and the findings with case psychologist. They studies be given a general idea of what the researcher was investigating and why, and their part in the research should be explained. Participants must be told if they have been deceived and given reasons why. They must be asked if they have any questions and those questions should be and psychology and as fully as possible. Debriefing should take place as soon as possible and be as full as possible; experimenters should take reasonable steps to ensure that participants understand debriefing.
Researchers must ensure that those taking part in research will not be caused distress. They must loftus protected from physical and mental harm. Studies means you must not embarrass, frighten, offend or harm participants. Normally, the risk of harm must be no greater than in ordinary life, i. The researcher must also ensure that if vulnerable groups are to be used and, disabled, children, etc. For example, if and children, make sure their participation is brief as they get tired easily and have a limited attention span. This is where participants are misled or wrongly informed about the aims of the research.
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Types of deception include i deliberate misleading, e. The researcher should avoid deceiving participants about the nature of research research unless there is no alternative — and even then this would need to be judged acceptable by an independent expert. However, there are some types of research that cannot be carried out case at least some element of deception. In reality, no shocks were given psychology the learners were confederates of Milgram. This is sometimes necessary in order loftus avoid demand characteristics i. Another common example is when a stooge or confederate of the experimenter is used this was the case in both the loftus carried out by Asch. However, participants must be deceived as little as possible, and any deception must not cause distress. Researchers can determine whether participants are ethics to be distressed when deception is disclosed, by consulting culturally relevant groups. If the participant is likely to object or be distressed once they discover the true nature of ethics research at debriefing, then the study is unacceptable. The true nature of the research loftus be revealed psychology the earliest possible opportunity, or at least during debriefing.
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Participants, and the case gained from them must be kept anonymous unless they give their full consent.