Understanding Ethics in Research

Ethics in research refers to the moral principles that guide researchers to conduct and report research without deception or misinterpretation, and respect the rights of those involved.
They ensure that researchers will maintain a high level of honesty and integrity in their work.
Specifically in psychology, researchers have ethical guidelines they must follow as detailed by the British Psychological Society (BPS).

Importance of Ethics

Ethics standards exist to protect the rights and wellbeing of individuals participating in research studies.
They help ensure that research is conducted in a manner that respects human dignity and promotes respect for truth.

Informed Consent: Participants must have comprehensive understanding of the research and its potential risks and benefits before they agree to participate.
Deception: Misleading participants is generally consider unethical unless it is fully justified and necessary for the research.
Debrief: After the research, participants should be provided with an explanation of the research’s purpose and methods.
Confidentiality: Any data or personal information collected from participants must be kept secure and confidential.
Withdrawal Rights: Participation in a study should always be voluntary, and all participants have the right to withdraw at any point without any penalties.
Protection from harm: Researchers must ensure that their studies do not harm participants physically or psychologically.

To ensure that ethical guidelines are adhered to, most research proposals are reviewed by an Ethics Committee who ensure that the study upholds ethical standards.

Breaches of ethics in research can severely impact the validity and reliability of the study.
Breaches can include plagiarism, falsifying data, failing to maintain participant confidentiality, or causing harm to participants.
Penalties could result in the researcher losing their professional standing or being subject to legal ramifications.

Ethical considerations are essential in psychological research to balance the need for scientific progression with the welfare of research participants.
Adhering to these ethics promotes trust between the public and the research community, and also helps to secure funding for future research projects.