There are many considerations that need to be taken into account when conducting research with human participants - AQA - A-Level Psychology - Question 11 - 2019 - Paper 1

In considering the ethics of research within social and cognitive psychology, several fundamental principles can be evaluated:

Respect for Participants

Researchers have a duty to respect the privacy and confidentiality of their participants. This involves not only protecting their personal details but also ensuring that any data collected is handled securely. Full informed consent is another essential element, where participants are made clear about the nature and objectives of the study prior to their involvement.

Responsibility to Protect from Harm

Researchers are responsible for safeguarding their participants from physical and psychological harm. This includes minimizing any potential distress caused by the research activities and offering participants the right to withdraw from the study at any time without consequence.

Ethical Cases in Research

In cognitive psychology, studies frequently employ pseudonyms to maintain participant anonymity, as seen in studies where identities are protected (for instance, research involving sensitive topics). This practice can often be categorized as ethical since it respects individual privacy.

Examples of Ethical Concerns

However, certain studies raise ethical dilemmas. For example, in the research conducted by Sheriff (1954/1961), there were ethical considerations regarding the informed consent of both the participants and their parents, especially in activities potentially harmful to the boys involved.

Similarly, Milgram’s experiments highlighted ethical issues where participants exhibited significant distress during the study, prompting questions about the morality of not adequately protecting these individuals.

Conclusion

In summary, while there are practices within social and cognitive psychology that uphold ethical standards, including anonymity and informed consent, there are also notable studies that provoke ethical concerns regarding participant treatment and potential psychological harm. Thus, research in this field can be regarded as both ethical and questionable, depending on the specific methodologies employed.