Ethical issues and ways of dealing with them

Ethical issues

Lack of informed consent

• Prospective ppts in studies should know what they are getting into before they get into it
• Informed consent involves making ppts aware of the aims of the research, the procedures, their rights (including the right to withdraw), and also what their data will be used for
• Ppts should then make an informed judgement whether or not to take part without being coerced/ feeling obliged
• FRom the researcher's POV, asking for informed consent may make the study meaningless because ppts beh will not be natural because they know the aims

Deception

• Deliberately misleading/withholding info from ppts at any stage of the investigation
• Means they cannot give informed consent

Lack of protection from harm

• As a result of their involvement, ppts should not be placed at any more risk than they would be in their daily lives and should be protected from physical/psych harm
• They should be reminded of their right to withdraw

Lack of privacy

• Ppts have the right to control info about themselves- this is the right of privacy

Lack of confidentiality

• Refers to our right, enshrined in law under the Data Protection Act, to have any personal data protected

Lack of…