Ethical Issues (Edexcel A-Level Psychology): Revision Notes
Ethical Issues
Introduction to ethical guidelines
When conducting research involving children, psychologists must follow strict ethical guidelines to ensure the safety and wellbeing of young participants. The BPS Code of Ethics (2009) provides the framework that British psychologists must adhere to when undertaking research. This code emphasises four core principles: respect, competence, integrity, and responsibility. These guidelines protect all participants but are especially important when working with children due to their vulnerability and age.
Researchers must recognise that whilst parents have the right to withdraw their child from a study, children also have their own independent right to withdraw. This distinction acknowledges that a child's consent is not equivalent to parental consent, and both must be respected throughout the research process.
Key ethical considerations when researching with children
Protection from harm
The child's safety and emotional wellbeing must be the highest priority during research. Researchers must be vigilant in monitoring participants for signs of distress. If a child becomes too distressed during the study, researchers are obligated to stop the research immediately to prevent any long-term damaging effects. All details about the child must remain confidential, and the child's identity must be protected in any published findings or reports.
Any information obtained during research that could affect the child's wellbeing should be reported to appropriate experts. Parents must be permitted to follow up on any concerns after the research has concluded.
Informed consent
Parental consent must be obtained before conducting any observations or collecting information from children. However, researchers must understand that parental permission alone is insufficient. Children themselves must also provide consent to participate, acknowledging their agency and autonomy in the research process.
The consent process should be age-appropriate, with children receiving information about procedures in a manner they can understand. They should be given opportunities to ask questions at any point during the research, regardless of what stage the study has reached.
Confidentiality and deception
Confidentiality is a vital ethical consideration in child research. All data collected must be kept secure, and children's identities must never be revealed in research outputs. Any breach of confidentiality could have serious consequences for the child's wellbeing and future.
Deception in research involving children requires careful consideration. Researchers must justify any use of deception and ensure it does not cause harm or significantly impact the child's trust in adults or authority figures.
The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC)
In 1989, governments worldwide adopted the UNCRC, which established universal rights for all children. The UNCRC offers specific guidelines about what countries should do to ensure children develop healthily, can learn at school, are protected, have their views heard, and are treated fairly.
Key articles governing research include:
- Best interests of the child must be a top priority in all decisions and actions
- Every child has the right to privacy
- Governments must protect children from all forms of bad treatment
- Children have the right to be consulted, to have access to information, to freedom of speech and opinion, and to challenge decisions made on their behalf
These principles directly inform how research with children should be conducted, ensuring that studies respect children's rights and dignity.
Historical context and evolving standards
Under current ethical guidance, many historical studies involving children would now be considered unethical.
Historical Example: The Strange Situation
The Strange Situation experiment has been criticised on ethical grounds due to the distress it caused children when they were separated from their parents. This distress was an intentional component of the experimental design, which would not meet today's standards for minimising harm.
This evolution in ethical standards reflects growing recognition of children's vulnerability and rights as research participants.
Balancing research benefits against ethical costs
Researchers face the challenge of balancing children's participation in valuable research against ethical guidelines and the UNCRC principles. They must carefully weigh the potential risks or costs to child participants against the benefits of conducting the study.
Potential risks and costs to consider:
- Time commitment required from the child
- Inconvenience to the child and family
- Embarrassment or social discomfort
- Intrusion of privacy
- Sense of coercion or pressure to participate
- Anxiety about the research procedures
Potential benefits:
- Increased confidence for the child from contributing to research
- Enhanced knowledge for the scientific community
- Opportunity for children to interact with attentive listeners
- Contribution to improved understanding of child development
Risk mitigation strategies
Researchers must clearly articulate the potential benefits of their work and implement appropriate steps to prevent or reduce risks. They should respond appropriately to children who refuse to participate or wish to withdraw, treating such decisions with respect rather than attempting to persuade continued participation.
When children show signs of distress, researchers may need to pause or terminate their involvement. Before conducting full-scale research, investigators may wish to run a small-scale pilot study to identify and address potential ethical issues in advance.
Remember!
Key Points to Remember:
- The BPS Code of Ethics (2009) requires researchers to follow principles of respect, competence, integrity, and responsibility when working with children.
- Both parental consent and the child's own consent must be obtained, and children retain an independent right to withdraw at any time.
- Protection from harm is paramount—researchers must stop the study if a child becomes distressed and maintain strict confidentiality.
- The UNCRC (1989) establishes children's rights including privacy, protection from harm, and the right to be consulted in decisions affecting them.
- Researchers must balance potential benefits against risks and costs, implementing safeguards such as pilot studies and clear procedures for responding to distress.