Any psychological research must abide to ethical code and be approved by ethical committee before being carried out - otherwise it is simply impossible to proceed with a research idea. In this post, I will give some useful links for the most commonly used ethical codes and other resources.
Then, I will also talk about some of the most controversial Psychological studies, including Stanford Prison Experiment and Study of Obedience.
Then, I will also talk about some of the most controversial Psychological studies, including Stanford Prison Experiment and Study of Obedience.
Ethics codes
1. Declaration of Helsinki
This is one of the first and the most important sets of ethical principles for a medical community which was devised by the World Medical Community (WMC) back in 1964. Although it is not a legally binding document in itself, it influenced and was incorporated in a vast number of regional and national regulations and legislation. You can learn more about its history and read the whole document HERE.
2. BPS Code of Ethics and Conducts
Code devised by the British Psychological Society. This is quite an essential read for those studying psychology in the UK. Full text is available at the BPS website HERE.
3. APA Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct
Devised by the American Psychological Association, the Ethics Code can be found on their website - with the 2010 Amendments included. Find out more and read the document HERE.
If these are a bit too much information for now, just remember the following basic principles which any psychological research should abide to:
> Confidentiality. No names should be used in a research report; all the data should be kept anonymous unless participants gave their full and informed consent to reveal it.
> Informed Consent. Participants must be fully informed about the purpose of the research, the possible risks, operations and procedures involved and time of participation. Participants also should be able to ask any questions about the research before, during and after the participation.
> Deception. Sometimes it is necessary for research purposes to deceive a participant (for example, Milgram's Obedience experiment). However, it should be done as little as possible and should never cause distress or any harm; participants should be told of the deceit afterwards and the reasons for it should be fully explained.
> Freedom to withdraw from participation at any point.
This is one of the first and the most important sets of ethical principles for a medical community which was devised by the World Medical Community (WMC) back in 1964. Although it is not a legally binding document in itself, it influenced and was incorporated in a vast number of regional and national regulations and legislation. You can learn more about its history and read the whole document HERE.
2. BPS Code of Ethics and Conducts
Code devised by the British Psychological Society. This is quite an essential read for those studying psychology in the UK. Full text is available at the BPS website HERE.
3. APA Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct
Devised by the American Psychological Association, the Ethics Code can be found on their website - with the 2010 Amendments included. Find out more and read the document HERE.
If these are a bit too much information for now, just remember the following basic principles which any psychological research should abide to:
> Confidentiality. No names should be used in a research report; all the data should be kept anonymous unless participants gave their full and informed consent to reveal it.
> Informed Consent. Participants must be fully informed about the purpose of the research, the possible risks, operations and procedures involved and time of participation. Participants also should be able to ask any questions about the research before, during and after the participation.
> Deception. Sometimes it is necessary for research purposes to deceive a participant (for example, Milgram's Obedience experiment). However, it should be done as little as possible and should never cause distress or any harm; participants should be told of the deceit afterwards and the reasons for it should be fully explained.
> Freedom to withdraw from participation at any point.
Famous Controversial Studies
1. Philip Zimbardo's Stanford Prison Experiment (1971)
This study became widely known also due to the novel Black Box by Mario Geordano and a German film Das Experiment (2001) based on the novel. In 2010, Americans created their version: a film The Experiment, starring Adam Broody among others. Do check these out; I personally prefer the original film, but I guess it is the matter of taste.
The experiment is well known due to its numerous ethical controversies. Participants experienced both psychological and physical harm, huge invasion of privacy (strip arrests etc.), declined environment and sanitary conditions, and there was quite a big difficulty to withdraw from the study due to peer pressure.
There is actually a website dedicated to the experiment, where you can find Zimbardo's own account of it and a report of its results. It can be found HERE. Wikipedia might give you a slightly more objective information though.
Meanwhile, I would like to show you a short interview with one of the experiment's participants. He had a role of a guard.
This study became widely known also due to the novel Black Box by Mario Geordano and a German film Das Experiment (2001) based on the novel. In 2010, Americans created their version: a film The Experiment, starring Adam Broody among others. Do check these out; I personally prefer the original film, but I guess it is the matter of taste.
The experiment is well known due to its numerous ethical controversies. Participants experienced both psychological and physical harm, huge invasion of privacy (strip arrests etc.), declined environment and sanitary conditions, and there was quite a big difficulty to withdraw from the study due to peer pressure.
There is actually a website dedicated to the experiment, where you can find Zimbardo's own account of it and a report of its results. It can be found HERE. Wikipedia might give you a slightly more objective information though.
Meanwhile, I would like to show you a short interview with one of the experiment's participants. He had a role of a guard.
2. Stanley Milgram's Obedience Study (1974)
This experiment is often referred to as one of the most controversial experiments in history (at least in American shows it is). There was the whole bunch of ethic issues: participants received a long lasting psychological harm; it was hard to withdraw; and of course, the deception: in effect, they knew nothing about the true nature of the experiment: its goals, procedures, even people involved.
Here is the video about it which includes Milgram himself talking about his study.
This experiment is often referred to as one of the most controversial experiments in history (at least in American shows it is). There was the whole bunch of ethic issues: participants received a long lasting psychological harm; it was hard to withdraw; and of course, the deception: in effect, they knew nothing about the true nature of the experiment: its goals, procedures, even people involved.
Here is the video about it which includes Milgram himself talking about his study.