Whenever possible the investigator should inform the participants of the objectives of the investigation. By doing so it could cause demand characteristics.
They should be informed of all the aspects of the research that might be reasonably be expected to influence willingness to participate. If the participants make further enquiries the investigator must provide them with the information they ask for.
If the research is being taken on persons under the age of 16 consent must be agreed to by the child’s parents/guardians.
All participants will have all information obtained during an investigation kept confidential under the data protection act. The participants in the research have to right to expect that the information they provide will be treated confidentially and that if the information were to be published that it would not be identifiable as theirs. If for any reason confidentiality cannot be guaranteed the participant must be warned of this in advance of agreeing to participate.
There must be no deception in the investigation. Deception is the withholding of information or the misleading of participants is unacceptable if the participants are typically likely to object or show unease once debriefed.
Intentional deception of the participants over the purpose and general nature of the investigation should be avoided whenever possible.
Participants should never be deliberately misled without extremely strong scientific or medical justification. Even then there should be strict controls and the disinterested approval of independent advisors.
In a study where the participants are aware that they have taken part in an investigation, after the data has been collected the psychological researcher should provide the participants with any necessary information to complete their understanding of the nature of the research. This is known as the ‘Debriefing’
The investigator should discuss amongst the participants their experience of the research in order to monitor any unforeseen negative effects or misconceptions.
But debriefing does not provide a justification for unethical aspects of any investigation. Investigators have a responsibility to ensure that participants receive any necessary debriefing in the form of active intervention before they leave the research setting.
Another requirement in the ethical guideline is that the participant has the right to withdraw himself or herself from the research at any time. It is recognised that this may be difficult in certain observational or organisational settings, but nevertheless the investigator must attempt to ensure that participants know of their right to withdraw. When a child is being tested, avoidance of the testing situation may be taken as evidence of failure to consent to the procedure and should be acknowledged. In the light of experience of the investigation, or as a result of debriefing, the participant has the right to withdraw retrospectively any consent given, and to require
that there own data, including recordings, be destroyed.
Participants of the research must be assured of protection from physical and mental harm during the investigation. Normally, the risk of harm must be no greater than in ordinary life, i.e. participants should not be exposed to risks greater than or additionally to those encountered in their normal lifestyles. Where the risk of harm is greater than in ordinary life the provisions of informing the participant is applied. The participants must be asked about any factors in the procedure that might create a risk, such as pre-existing medical conditions, and must be advised of any special action they should take to avoid risk. Participants should be informed of procedures for contacting the investigator within a reasonable time period following participation should stress, potential harm, or related questions or concern arise despite the precautions required by the Principles.
Where research procedures might result in undesirable consequences for
Participants, the investigator has the responsibility to detect and remove or correct these consequences.
Where research may involve behaviour or experiences that participants may regard as personal and private the participants must be protected from stress by all appropriate measures, including the assurance that answers to personal questions need not be given. There should be no concealment or deception when seeking information that might encroach on privacy.
In research involving children, great caution should be exercised when discussing the results with parents, teachers since evaluative statements may carry unintended weight.
Studies based upon observation must respect the privacy and psychological well-being of the individuals studied. Unless those observed give their consent to being observed, observational research is only acceptable in situations where those observed would expect to be observed by strangers. Additionally, particular
account should be taken of local cultural values and of the possibility of intruding upon the privacy of individuals who, even while in a normally public space, may believe they are unobserved.
During research, an investigator may obtain evidence of psychological or physical problems of which a participant is, apparently, unaware. In such a case the investigator has a responsibility to inform the participant if the investigator believes that by not doing so the participant’s future well-being may be endangered.
The Ethical guidelines mainly focus on the protection of the participants. However, it is important with socially sensitive research to consider the protection of groups to which the participants belong and those closely associated with the participants.
The research is more likely to be affected due to these ethical guidelines as it can cause demand characteristics as the participants will acknowledge that they are participating in a experiment and would most likely act in a way they feel the investigator wants.
