Ethical Issues
Informed Consent
Definition: Participants must be fully informed about the study’s
purpose, procedures, risks, and benefits before agreeing to participate.
Key Points:
o Participants should understand what they are agreeing to.
o Consent must be voluntary, without coercion.
Challenges:
o Ensuring comprehension, especially with vulnerable groups
(e.g., children, those with cognitive impairments).
o Balancing transparency with the risk of altering behavior (e.g., in
covert studies).
Confidentiality and Anonymity
Definition: Protecting participants’ identities and personal information.
o Confidentiality: Ensuring data is not disclosed to unauthorized
parties.
o Anonymity: Ensuring participants cannot be identified in the
findings.
Key Points:
o Use pseudonyms or codes to protect identities.
o Store data securely (e.g., encrypted files, locked cabinets).
Challenges:
o Legal obligations to report certain information (e.g., criminal
activity).
o Balancing transparency with privacy.
Avoiding Harm
Definition: Ensuring participants are not physically, psychologically, or
socially harmed by the research.
Key Points:
o Minimize risks and maximize benefits.
o Provide support for participants who may experience distress.
Challenges:
o Predicting potential harm in sensitive topics (e.g., trauma,
abuse).
o Ensuring long-term well-being of participants.
Deception
Definition: Withholding information or misleading participants about
the study’s true purpose.
Key Points:
o Sometimes used to prevent bias or ensure natural behavior.
o Must be justified by the study’s scientific value.
Challenges:
o Ethical concerns about trust and autonomy.
o Need for debriefing to explain the true purpose after the study.
Right to Withdraw
Definition: Participants can leave the study at any time without
penalty.
Key Points:
o Clearly communicate this right at the start.
o Ensure participants feel comfortable exercising this right.
Challenges:
o Managing the impact on data collection and study validity.
Debriefing
Definition: Providing participants with information about the study
after their participation.
Key Points:
o Explain the true purpose and findings.
o Address any concerns or questions.
Challenges:
o Ensuring participants understand the debriefing information.
o Managing potential distress from learning about deception.
Example:
Imagine you’re conducting a study on the effects of bullying on mental health.
Before starting, you need to get informed consent from participants. This
means explaining the study’s purpose, what they’ll be asked to do, and any
potential risks. You must also assure them that their information will be
kept confidential and that they can withdraw at any time.
If your study involves sensitive topics, you need to ensure you’re not causing
harm. For example, if a participant becomes upset during an interview, you
should provide support and resources.
Sometimes, researchers use deception to prevent bias. For example, they
might not reveal the true purpose of the study to avoid altering behavior.
However, this must be justified, and participants should
be debriefed afterward to explain the true purpose and address any
concerns.
