Ethics Article Psychology today - academic stretch

The article on ethics states that researchers cannot simply

• Focus on data when it comes to conclusions

• Make it up as they go along

• Follow a set of rules, rather move towards solving puzzles

• State historical research to justify ethical considerations

The British Sociological society stated that we should

• be erring on the side of caution in making judgements affecting the wellbeing of participants online

• not worry too much about ethics in the digital age because people are more resilient

• educate young people about being less sensitive in taking part in research

• Place online research as the only way of researching in future

Another challenge is that the last set of online ethics guidelines were produced in 2002 but different platforms for media have followed which means....

• You should only use wikipedia for information

• You should not use multiple platforms

• We have changed the way in which we relate to each other

• you need a more highly powered phone

In 2016 the BPS (British Psychology Society) stated that due to technological advances and ethics that there are now additional complexities

• which make people accountable for their actions

• which allow people to give anonymous responses

• which makes things easier

• which may not be immediately obvious

The BPS (Psychological association) and and BSA (Sociological association) both agree that respect, competence,

• previous research that has generated the most interest guide researchers

• communism and collectivism guide researchers

• responsibility to do no harm and integrity are hugely important in guiding researchers

• ideology and human rights guide researchers

Online research generates big data opportunities so this means that

• data is completely traceable giving us more safeguarding opportunities

• complex software is needed to capture and visualise this data to see patterns

• more time needs to be allocated to online research

• researching online is the only way forward

The ability to store, collect, share and reanalyse large datasets

• complicates participants accessing their data

• complicates informed consent

• complicates producing a summary

• complicates being a Psychologist