Ethics in Research

Ethical Principles

• Respect for Persons: Recognize the autonomy and dignity of individuals, respecting their rights and freedoms.
• Beneficence: Maximize benefits and minimize harm to participants.
• Justice: Ensure fairness and equality in the distribution of benefits and risks.

Informed Consent

• Obtain participants' voluntary and informed consent before conducting research.
• Provide clear information about the study, including risks and benefits.
• Ensure participants understand their right to withdraw at any time.

Confidentiality and Anonymity

• Protect participants' privacy and maintain confidentiality.
• Use anonymous data collection methods whenever possible.
• Ensure secure storage and disposal of data.

Deception and Debriefing

• Avoid deceptive practices that may cause harm or distress.
• Provide debriefing sessions to inform participants about the study's true purpose and nature.
• Ensure participants' understanding and consent before conducting studies involving deception.

Vulnerable Populations

• Take special care when working with vulnerable populations, such as children, prisoners, or individuals with disabilities.
• Ensure additional safeguards and protections are in place.

Researcher-Participant Relationships

• Maintain professional boundaries and avoid dual relationships.
• Avoid exploiting or coercing participants, particularly in situations where there is a power imbalance.

Data Management and Storage

• Ensure accurate and secure data collection, storage, and disposal.
• Protect data from unauthorized access or misuse.

Cultural Sensitivity and Diversity

• Be aware of cultural differences and biases in research design and implementation.
• Strive to include diverse participants and consider cultural nuances.

Ethical Review Process

• Submit research proposals to Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) or Ethics Committees for review and approval.
• Ensure ongoing monitoring and evaluation of research studies.

Ethical Principles in Research

• Respect for persons involves recognizing individuals' autonomy and dignity, and respecting their rights and freedoms.
• Beneficence principle aims to maximize benefits and minimize harm to participants.
• Justice principle ensures fairness and equality in distributing benefits and risks among participants.

Informed Consent Process

• Obtain voluntary and informed consent from participants before conducting research.
• Provide clear information about the study, including risks, benefits, and procedures.
• Ensure participants understand their right to withdraw from the study at any time.

Confidentiality and Anonymity

• Protect participants' privacy and maintain confidentiality throughout the study.
• Use anonymous data collection methods whenever possible to ensure participant anonymity.
• Ensure secure storage and proper disposal of data to prevent unauthorized access.

Deception and Debriefing

• Avoid deceptive practices that may cause harm or distress to participants.
• Provide debriefing sessions to inform participants about the study's true purpose and nature.
• Obtain participants' understanding and consent before conducting studies involving deception.

Vulnerable Populations

• Take special care when working with vulnerable populations, such as children, prisoners, or individuals with disabilities.
• Implement additional safeguards and protections to ensure their safety and well-being.

Researcher-Participant Relationships

• Maintain professional boundaries and avoid dual relationships with participants.
• Avoid exploiting or coercing participants, particularly in situations where power imbalance exists.

Data Management and Storage

• Ensure accurate and secure data collection, storage, and disposal to prevent data breaches.
• Protect data from unauthorized access or misuse.

Cultural Sensitivity and Diversity

• Be aware of cultural differences and biases in research design and implementation.
• Strive to include diverse participants and consider cultural nuances to ensure representative results.

Ethical Review Process

• Submit research proposals to Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) or Ethics Committees for review and approval.
• Ensure ongoing monitoring and evaluation of research studies to ensure ethical compliance.

Confidentiality in Psychology

• Confidentiality is the principle of protecting sensitive information shared by clients or participants in psychological research or therapy, establishing trust between psychologist and client/participant.

Importance of Confidentiality

• Ensures honest and open disclosure of information
• Protects clients from harm or exploitation

Types of Confidentiality

• Absolute Confidentiality: No information is shared with anyone, except in cases of mandatory reporting (e.g., child abuse).
• Relative Confidentiality: Information is shared with others, but only with the client's consent or in specific circumstances (e.g., supervision, consultation).

Limits of Confidentiality

• Mandatory Reporting: Psychologists must report information to authorities in cases of child or elder abuse, suicidal or homicidal intent, or court-ordered disclosure.
• Duty to Warn: Psychologists may breach confidentiality to protect others from harm (e.g., Tarasoff v. Regents of the University of California, 1976).
• Supervision and Consultation: Confidentiality may be limited when seeking guidance from colleagues or supervisors.

Best Practices for Confidentiality

• Obtain informed consent from clients regarding confidentiality and its limits.
• Use secure storage and transmission methods for client data.
• Establish clear policies and procedures for confidentiality and breach notification.
• Educate clients about the importance of confidentiality and its limitations.