What's the Ethical Issue?

Students often struggle to differentiate between ethical issues and ethical guidelines in psychological research. This blog aims to clarify the distinction.

Ethical issues are dilemmas that arise in research.

Researchers must balance their pursuit of scientific knowledge against the fundamental rights and well-being of their participants. These conflicts occur when the methods needed to obtain meaningful research findings potentially compromise participant well-being. Essentially, ethical issues are potential problems – ‘what could go wrong’.

Examples of Ethical Issues

• Deception by misleading participants or withholding information from them. For example, in Milgram’s (1963) obedience study, participants believed they were administering real electric shocks, unaware that both the shocks and the learners' reactions were simulated. This is a problem because participants may be angry, distressed, or upset that they have been lied to. Additionally, it could prevent them from wanting to participate in future psychology research.
• Causing harm to participants, such as distress, embarrassment, or fear. For example, a researcher may be investigating the effect of sleep disorders on quality of life. The ethical issue here is that participants may experience an increase in symptom severity because of the research and their wellbeing could be in jeopardy.
• There may be concerns about confidentiality and privacy, such as protecting participants' personal information and data. For example, a researcher may want to conduct a case study on someone with amnesia. Ethical issues here could be that personal information gathered during a case study could fall into the wrong hands. Additionally, some participants may worry about their reputation if they must put their names on questionnaires, or they may be distressed at what video footage (recorded in an observation) might be used for.
• Participants may not be given enough research information, what they are participating in, or what the risks are of taking part. For example, social psychologists like Zimbardo, Asch, and Milgram, did not reveal the true aim of their research or what the participants could expect to experience. This is an issue because it can lead to people becoming distrusting of psychology and a reduction in the number of people who are willing to be participants in the future. It is also an issue since the participants will not fully understand what they are taking part in and could experience nervousness or uncertainty. They may also not be confident in asserting their right to withdraw from the researcher.

Ethical Guidelines: Addressing the Issues

Ethical guidelines are procedures designed to prevent and address ethical issues. The British Psychological Society (BPS) has a code of ethics to ensure participants are treated respectfully. Guidelines offer solutions to the potential problems posed by ethical issues.

Here are some ways ethical guidelines address the issues described above:

Ethical Issue: Deception

Ethical Guideline: Debriefing

Participants should be told the study's true aims and any withheld details (e.g., information about other conditions in an independent group design). They should also be informed about how their data will be used and their right to withdraw it. Finally, participants should be reassured that their behaviour was normal, and counselling should be offered if they experienced negative psychological consequences.

Ethical Issue: Concerns about the use of data

Ethical Guideline: Confidentiality and Privacy

The Data Protection Act legally protects personal details. Researchers must keep participant details anonymous or use initials (e.g., patient KF). It is now standard practice to avoid recording any personally identifying information. In some research methods (e.g. questionnaires) participants can provide data anonymously.

Ethical Issue: Participants do not understand what is expected of them, or their right to withdraw

Ethical Guideline: Informed Consent

Participants should receive a consent form detailing what they can expect. They then sign to confirm their agreement. Different types of consent exist: presumptive consent (gained from similar participants), prior general consent (consent for anything that could happen), parental consent (for participants under 16), and retrospective consent (obtained during debriefing).

Understanding the difference between ethical issues and ethical guidelines is vital for conducting responsible psychological research. Ethical issues are potential problems that need to be considered and addressed, while ethical guidelines provide the framework for preventing and managing these issues. By adhering to these guidelines, researchers can protect the well-being of their participants and uphold the integrity of psychological research.

References:

Tutor2U study notes: Ethics and Psychology https://www.tutor2u.net/psycho... (accessed 9.2.25)

BPS code of ethics and conduct https://explore.bps.org.uk/con... (accessed 9.2.25)

Additional Example

Sarah is a psychologist interested in brain injury. Her neighbour suffered a brain injury, and Sarah wants to interview her. What ethical issues might arise?

• Sarah's neighbour may not be able to give fully informed consent due to the brain injury. Her cognitive abilities might be impaired, making it difficult for her to understand the research's nature and implications.
• If Sarah interviews her neighbour, maintaining confidentiality and privacy could be challenging, especially given their existing relationship. It might be difficult to anonymise the data effectively, potentially leading to identification and a breach of privacy.
• Discussing her traumatic experience could cause Sarah’s neighbour further distress. Sarah needs to carefully consider the potential for psychological harm and take steps to minimise it.