Adherence to a Code of Ethics: Does it limit the development of Psychological Theory?
Ethics are principles, or rules, that determine right or wrong conduct. These rules are based on socially agreed principles that are used to develop a set of clear and logical guidelines in order to direct behaviour. In a psychological research context, ethics refers to a moral framework that governs what psychologists are able and unable to do within their studies. In 1947, in response to the research that was carried out on human beings during the Nazi regime, the first generally accepted code of ethics for research on humans was produced. The Nuremberg Code was formed and became the basis for future ethical codes in both medicine and psychology, and from …show more content…
At the time Milgram’s study was conducted, the US regulatory body, the American Psychological Association, investigated and it was found to have been ethically acceptable. It has also been noted that despite nowadays, this study being unethical, it demonstrated more than any other psychological study just why ethics are so crucial. Had Milgram never been able to conduct his study in the way that he had, the development of the behaviour theory may not have progressed as it has.
Applied experiments are an area that demonstrates the challenges faced due to adhering to a code of ethics. The 1974 experiments by Loftus and Palmer in which they sought to answer their hypothesis that the wording of a question could have an effect on memory are examples of applied research. Their studies were designed to look at the issue of relevance to accident investigation and witness interviewing. In addition to answering such a question, the study must be designed in a way that leaves results able to be applied meaningfully to the area in question, a somewhat challenging …show more content…
Although there are examples of when it may appear that it doesn’t, for example in Slater’s virtual replication of Milgram’s study, due to the fact that exact replication of important studies is not possible, I believe there was always be a level of uncertainty as to how relevant replicated data is in comparison to the original. Applied research in particular stands out to me as an area of psychological research that has been limited due to the code of ethics. By this, I mean that due to the fact that deception of participants is not permitted by the code of ethics as this would remove their ability to give informed consent and to withdraw from the experiment at any time, when participants are exposed to the ‘live’ crime, the results would not have had the preferred high ecological validity and this is important in this area of
Ethics are principles, or rules, that determine right or wrong conduct. These rules are based on socially agreed principles that are used to develop a set of clear and logical guidelines in order to direct behaviour. In a psychological research context, ethics refers to a moral framework that governs what psychologists are able and unable to do within their studies. In 1947, in response to the research that was carried out on human beings during the Nazi regime, the first generally accepted code of ethics for research on humans was produced. The Nuremberg Code was formed and became the basis for future ethical codes in both medicine and psychology, and from …show more content…
At the time Milgram’s study was conducted, the US regulatory body, the American Psychological Association, investigated and it was found to have been ethically acceptable. It has also been noted that despite nowadays, this study being unethical, it demonstrated more than any other psychological study just why ethics are so crucial. Had Milgram never been able to conduct his study in the way that he had, the development of the behaviour theory may not have progressed as it has.
Applied experiments are an area that demonstrates the challenges faced due to adhering to a code of ethics. The 1974 experiments by Loftus and Palmer in which they sought to answer their hypothesis that the wording of a question could have an effect on memory are examples of applied research. Their studies were designed to look at the issue of relevance to accident investigation and witness interviewing. In addition to answering such a question, the study must be designed in a way that leaves results able to be applied meaningfully to the area in question, a somewhat challenging …show more content…
Although there are examples of when it may appear that it doesn’t, for example in Slater’s virtual replication of Milgram’s study, due to the fact that exact replication of important studies is not possible, I believe there was always be a level of uncertainty as to how relevant replicated data is in comparison to the original. Applied research in particular stands out to me as an area of psychological research that has been limited due to the code of ethics. By this, I mean that due to the fact that deception of participants is not permitted by the code of ethics as this would remove their ability to give informed consent and to withdraw from the experiment at any time, when participants are exposed to the ‘live’ crime, the results would not have had the preferred high ecological validity and this is important in this area of