1. Ethical costs of conducting research in Psychology
This controversy is all about finding a balance between making scientific progress and protecting people and animals from harm.

2. Lesson 1 Objectives
To be able to define ‘ethical cost’ and ‘scientific benefit’
To consider why ethical dilemmas arise in Psychology
To describe the scientific benefits and ethical costs of studies in Psychology.

3. Definitions
Use your handout and the textbook to produce your own definitions with examples
Scientific benefit
Ethical Costs
Read out your definitions to a partner and decide on any improvements

4. Psychology and ethics
CQ – Is research justified when you measure scientific benefits against ethical costs?
Gross (2003) particular ethical issues are raised in psychological research because humans and animals have feelings and can experience pain, fear and so on.
The double obligation dilemma
What is it? Why does it pose a problem?

5. Scientific benefits Read pg162
What scientific benefits can you identify for
Bowlby,
The use of psychoactive drugs in society
Watson and Rayner?

6. Ethical Costs
The key ethical questions here are “Can failure to inform the participant of the true purpose of the experiment ever be justified?” and “Can the end justify the means?”
Consider the studies on pg 162 and also Milgram’s research into obedience – what were the ethical costs to participants?
Give examples of studies that could not have produced valid results without deception and lack of informed consent.
What was the cost to the participants?

7. Rosenhan (1973)

8. Asch 1955 A B C

9. Loftus and Palmer 1974

10. Ethical Costs What were the ethical costs of these examples?
What did Milgram say about
what Pps thought after his study on
obedience? Refer to handout
Did the end justify the means?

11. Quick recap
Do you have good definitions of scientific benefit and ethical costs?
Can you suggest reasons why ethical issues occur in Psychology?
What are some scientific benefits of research? Give some examples.
What are the ethical costs of research? Give examples.

12. Lesson 2 To consider the solutions to ethical dilemmas in research.
To understand how cost-benefit analyses are used by ethics committees.

13. Solutions
Read p.163
What do Sieber and Stanley suggest about ignoring socially sensitive research?
What is their solution?
Identify organisations that have been set up to safeguard ethics

14. BPS Code of Ethics and Conduct 2009
Remember Can Do, Can’t Do With Pps
Four key aspects
Respect
Competence
Responsibility
Integrity

15. Dealing with deception
What can be done to overcome deception issues?
Use your handout to discuss and write down the problems with using these :-
Debriefing
Presumptive Consent
Stopping the study if things go wrong

16. Cost-benefit approach
Aronson (1992) suggests that one way of dealing with ethical issues is to use a cost-benefit analysis, weighing up how much good will derive from the research against any potential harm or distress to the participant.
Key questions are:
Can we derive the scientific benefit before the study?
Can we predict the ethical costs?

17. Ethical committees and cost benefit approach
Read about Laud Humphreys’ tearoom trade study and conduct a cost benefit analysis
Discuss as many scientific benefits as you can with a partner. Use the table worksheet
Now discuss the ethical costs
As an ethics committee would you have approved this research?

18. Lesson 3 Objectives
To identify the scientific benefits and ethical costs of a famous study on bystander apathy
To consider/recap the advantages and disadvantages of using cost-benefit analyses.

19. Cost-benefit approach - Ethics Debate
Scenario based on Piliavin et al Good Samaritan study on bystander apathy.
Mad scientists – Your task is to persuade the ethics committee to approve a bystander apathy study in which a person will pretend to be shot by a sniper in the centre of London so that researchers can observe their helping behaviour. There will be fake blood and a gun shot.
Touchy feely complainers – Your task to complain on behalf of the innocent bystanders in the street and recommend revisions to the study.
Sensible ethics committee – Your task is to find a balance between scientific benefits and ethical costs and approve a version of the study you are happy with

20. When is harm justified?
Are there any unintended ethical issues that may arise in the study on bystander apathy?
What was the scientific benefit? Could it be predicted?
Consider Milgram , was the harm caused anticipated?
What does this suggest about ethical committees?
What about the benefit and costs of Zimbardo’s prison study? Were they predictable? How was this improved by BBC’s ‘The Experiment’

21. Remember that controversy questions are different. AO2 =10 AO3 =15
Critically consider the balance of scientific benefits measured against ethical costs in Psychology (25) Assessment Objectives
Remember that controversy questions are different. AO2 =10 AO3 =15
AO2 Marks are gained for selecting appropriate evidence, applying the evidence in a detailed and accurate manner.
AO3 Marks are gained for evaluation and analysis of the arguments e.g showing you understand the controversy and main arguments

22. Outline Plan – over to you!
Intro – Explain the controversy –finding a balance. Outline why ethical issues occur in Psychology and give example. D/O dilemma
Outline the scientific benefits to society of studies e.g Bowlby, Watson and Rayner, Use of drugs even Milgram!
However -What were the costs to participants in these studies? What problems with ways of dealing with them e.g debriefing – does it help?
Explain possible solutions, the use of cost-benefit analyses/ ethical committees and BPS code, Should we ignore sensitive topics?
However - Is it possible to predict benefits or costs? Use Zimbardo/BBC as example.What the problem with guidelines?
Conc- How do we strike a balance? Is our duty to participants or the general public? What benefit is there to the actual pps? Is the balance between science and ethics in psychology about right or too in favour of one side?