An understanding of Ethical Costs of Conducting Research

Understanding Ethical Costs of Conducting Research

What are Ethical Costs in Research?

Ethical costs represent the potential moral implications or harmful effects on the participants or the general public that may arise from psychological research.
They are often weighed against the potential benefits of the research, such as new understandings or treatments for psychological disorders.

Types of Ethical Costs

Physical harm or discomfort - such as side effects from an experimental drug or fatigue from lack of sleep in a study.
Psychological distress - participants may experience emotional distress, anxiety, or stress during or after the study.
Confidentiality and privacy - if not adequately protected, participants’ identities and personal information could potentially be exposed.
Deception - sometimes researchers need to deceive the participants about the nature of the study, which can be ethically questionable.

Decisions About Ethical Costs

The principle of beneficence states that potential benefits must outweigh the possible ethical costs.
Informed consent is an ethical requirement where participants are told about all aspects of the study, including any possible ethical costs, before they agree to participate.
Ethical review boards, such as the British Psychological Society’s (BPS) Ethics Committee, review proposed studies and determine whether the ethical costs are justified.

Avoiding Ethical Costs

Researchers look for less invasive or distressing methods whenever possible.
Debriefing can be provided after the completion of research to explain the research’s purpose and alleviate any distress caused by the study.
Having a withdrawal option allows participants to leave whenever they want if they are not comfortable, reducing potential ethical costs.

Impact of Ethical Costs

High ethical costs can lead to participant distrust in psychological research, creating potential barriers for future research.
Unethical behaviour in psychological research could damage the reputation and credibility of the field of psychology.
Breaches in ethics could result in lawsuits, fines, or professional censure against researchers.

The Role of Ethics Codes

Codes of ethics from professional organizations like the BPS provide guidelines that help prevent or mitigate ethical costs in research.
These codes include principles like informed consent, confidentiality, and professional responsibility, which help ensure ethical treatment of research participants.