Question

Why is ethics important when you are conducting studies and publishing results in the behavioral sciences?

Answer 1

Importance of ethics: it is also called as "Behavioural Science", and it has to study behaviour in the most raw form. However many times these psychological experiments can a take toll on a subject's mind or personality or may even scar the person for the rest of his life. For instance, Watson's little Albert study on the other hand showed how fear can be learned by an individual. A child named Albert was made to develop fear of furry animals like rats. But thankfully after much controversies, his fear was countered by therapies.

Many similar experiments have happened in the past to prove certain hypotheses but it has also made news of unethical practices. As Psychology deals with our mind and behaviour, it has been taken into consideration that subjects entering with a calm mind have to leave the experiment with that state of mind only. Naturally it means more hard work on the researchers' part. Because of these ethical constrains, many times the results may differ in accuracy and researchers have to adapt to other methodologies. For example if I want to study the psyche behind a criminal activity, I cannot ask a participant to indulge in a criminal offence. Rather I can arrange for interviews of the people already behind bars for their criminal activities. Therefore ethics are important in any research because of the following reasons:

• Researchers should have a moral responsibility to protect the participants of a study from any damage mentally or physically.
• If psychological researchers do not care or show concern for the participants, they automatically ruin the reputation of not only the discipline but also themselves as fellow humans.
• Following ethics will ensure that in future people will come and participate in the experiments without any fear. Thus it promotes a trusting relationship. If someone wants to fund a research or be a part of it, they should do it confidently.
• Research must meet some basic legal, professional, institutional and federal standards before involving participants. In case of any mistake, not only the researchers but all the departments must be held accountable for negligence. That is why careful precautions must take place.

Some of the most common ethical constraints are:

1. Honesty of the research(genuine efforts): Manytimes the researcher is not fully vocal about the research and hide information. This is still a big argument as to how much information should be disclosed for the betterment of the participant and the research. But it is good that all guidelines that participants have to know should be clearly informed and respective persons doubts should be cleared out.
2. Frankness with the participant. The participant has the right to know their results after the experiment. The result should be showed in suc that they are not affected.
3. Confidentiality. One of the most widely followed ethic which should always be given importance and a Information acquired from a participant should never be disclosed.
4. Along with confidentiality come legality. One should always be aware of the laws pertaining to different aspects such as animal laws, human right laws and other laws.
5. Informed consent. It is very necessary for the participants to participate voluntarily with their own ownership.