Psychology B
Learning Outcome 2
Ethics
What are ethics, and why do they matter?=
Debates over ethics =
in
psychology – and in the broader field of ‘science’ –
have been prominent in academic and research psychology for a number of yea=
rs
now. Research has always been crucial to furthering our understanding of
psychological knowledge, from the early laboratory work of Watson,
Freud’s ‘talking’ technique and the Behaviourists’
animal experiments, yet in recent years many psychologists have started to
question the price to the ‘subjects’ of this expansion of
knowledge.
|
Subjects or Participants? Individuals
taking part in psychological studies have traditionally been referred to =
as
subjects, however, in the context of debates around ethical issues, many =
felt
that this implied an unequal power relationship between experimenter and
experimented-upon, and the term participants is now used to reflect the
voluntary nature of psychological experimentation, and respect for the
individuals who have given up their time to take part. |
Ethical standards: the British Psychological So=
ciety
Since 1985, the Brit=
ish
Psychology Society (the professional body responsible for regulation of
psychology in the
Task
Working in small gro=
ups, use
your existing knowledge of psychology to discuss some of the issues you thi=
nk a
code of conduct might cover. What would psychologists need to consider when
involving human participants in studies? Are there specific issues involved=
in
working with children, or adults with mental illnesses? What might go wrong
with a psychological study – why might participants need to be protec=
ted?
Write notes below an=
d be
prepared to report back to the rest of the group.
Milgram study – questions