Lecture notes Research Methods (PSYC10250) - Week 3 Ethics

Ethics (Week 3)
 Ethics
o Four ethical principles
 Respect, Competence, Responsibility, Integrity
o Key issues for RM1
 Informed consent, Deception, Protection from harm,
Debriefing, Confidentiality

The four ethical principles

 Respect
o Informed consent
 Participant information sheet (template in NOW)
 What does the study involve - purpose,
procedure, duration
 Right to refuse or withdraw
 Unique identification code
 Informed consent form (template in NOW)
 Competence
 Responsibility
o Deception
 Must explain as early as possible
 Opportunity to withdraw
 Monitor response
o Protection from discomfort & harm
 Physical & psychological
 Made explicit in participant information sheet
 Put in place resources
o Debriefing
 Debrief sheet (template on NOW)
 Opportunity to ask questions and get further
information
 Verbal discussion about debrief contents
o Confidentiality
 Stated on participant information sheet
 Need to inform participants if confidentiality cannot be
guaranteed
 Integrity
o Not fabricating or falsifying any data




Ethics in RM1: key requirements
 Obtain informed written consent