Ethical guidelines in psychological research
Apply consent, debriefing, confidentiality, deception, withdrawal, privacy and harm minimisation to research scenarios.
Original teaching mapped to Cambridge IGCSE Psychology 0266 Version 3 for 2027–2029. The course is independent study support, not Cambridge material, an official mark scheme or an awarded grade. Named-study notes summarise the required findings; candidates are not expected to evaluate named studies. Self-check practice is not official grading, a timed Paper 1/2 simulator or teacher review.
Before you begin
- Use the Version 3 syllabus and confirm availability in your administrative zone with Cambridge and your school. Both papers are compulsory. The updated named-study summaries are required context; full original research articles are not required.
Work on paper. Try each question before revealing help, and explain why your method works.
Quick readiness check
Before ethical guidelines in psychological research, which approach is most useful?
What you will learn
- Describe the seven ethical guidelines in the syllabus
- Apply guidelines to novel research scenarios
- Propose improvements that protect rights and wellbeing
Ethics protect rights and wellbeing
Researchers should seek valid, informed and voluntary consent; debrief participants after data collection, especially if deception was used; keep information confidential; avoid deception where possible; explain the right to withdraw; respect privacy; and minimise harm while maximising benefit. Participants should not face greater physical or psychological risk than ordinary daily life.
Apply more than one guideline to a real procedure
A study may have several ethical issues at once. A hidden observer raises consent and privacy questions; withholding an aim may require debriefing; collecting names creates confidentiality risks. Explain a concrete change, such as asking consent, using anonymous codes, allowing withdrawal or stopping if distress occurs.
Ethics are part of the design, not a final form
Researchers should consider whether a question is necessary, whether participants understand the procedure and how records will be protected. Deception needs a clear justification and debriefing; it should not be used simply because it is convenient.
Pause and explain
Which response best shows understanding of ethical guidelines in psychological research?
Worked example
A questionnaire collects names and asks about upsetting experiences. Give two ethical safeguards.
Show the worked solution
- Participants should know what they will be asked and consent freely.
- Use anonymous codes and allow people to skip or stop.
- Protect records and provide a suitable debrief.
Answer Obtain informed consent, protect confidentiality and allow participants to withdraw without penalty.
Try a topic test
Choose Easy, Normal or Difficult. Save your answers and open worked review after finishing.
Test this topic →From guided practice to a new situation
Write your answer and reasoning first. Use a hint only if you are stuck. The model solution is for self-checking; your written work is not automatically marked.
A researcher stores participant names beside sensitive answers on an unlocked laptop. Identify a guideline and a safeguard.
Give me a hint
Consider protection of personal information.
Compare my reasoning
- The answers can identify participants.
- This threatens confidentiality.
- Use anonymous codes and secure access to the records.
Confidentiality; remove direct identifiers and secure the data.
Look for these in your work
- Identifies the risk
- Names the guideline
- Proposes a safeguard
Participants are told they may stop only after finishing the final questionnaire. Which guideline is not respected?
Give me a hint
Can they leave at any point?
Compare my reasoning
- The researcher limits when participants may stop.
- The right to withdraw should apply during participation.
- The procedure should allow participants to leave at any time.
The right to withdraw is not respected.
Look for these in your work
- Identifies the restriction
- Names the right
- States an improvement
A covert study gives participants incomplete information, but the procedure may be needed to observe natural behaviour. Give two protections.
Give me a hint
Address deception after data collection and minimise risk.
Compare my reasoning
- The researcher should justify why deception is necessary and reduce it as far as possible.
- Debrief participants fully afterwards and allow their data to be withdrawn where feasible.
- Protect privacy and ensure the risk is not greater than everyday life.
Minimise and justify deception, then debrief; also protect privacy and the right to withdraw data where possible.
Look for these in your work
- Addresses deception
- Includes debriefing/withdrawal
- Considers privacy or harm
Common mistakes
- Treating consent as valid if participants cannot withdraw.
- Confusing anonymity with telling participants nothing.
- Assuming debriefing cancels every harm.
What can you explain now?
Which guideline requires participants to be able to leave at any time?
Compare with the explanation
Right to withdraw
Participants should be told they can stop participating at any time.
After trying it yourself, choose your next review. This is your self-assessment.
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Make it stick
How do consent, debriefing, confidentiality, withdrawal, privacy and harm minimisation protect participants?
If you needed the solution, close it and solve the problem again from a blank page. A correct answer is stronger when you can explain the reason for each step.