What are the ethical considerations in quantitative experiments?

Ethical considerations in quantitative experiments include informed consent, confidentiality, deception, and protection from harm.

Informed consent is a fundamental ethical consideration in any research, including quantitative experiments. It means that participants should be fully aware of the nature of the research, the procedures involved, the potential risks and benefits, and their rights to withdraw at any time without penalty. This ensures that participation is voluntary and based on a clear understanding of what is involved. Researchers must provide all necessary information in a clear and understandable manner, and obtain explicit consent before proceeding.

Confidentiality is another key ethical consideration. Researchers must ensure that all data collected is kept confidential and anonymous, meaning that it cannot be linked back to individual participants. This is particularly important in research that involves sensitive topics or vulnerable populations. Breaching confidentiality can lead to serious consequences, including harm to participants and damage to the researcher's reputation.

Deception is a contentious ethical issue in quantitative research. Sometimes, researchers may need to deceive participants about the true purpose of the study to avoid biasing the results. However, deception can undermine trust and cause distress or harm. Therefore, it should be used sparingly and only when absolutely necessary. When deception is used, a debriefing session should be held after the experiment to explain the true purpose of the study and why deception was necessary.

Protection from harm is a fundamental ethical principle in research. Researchers have a duty to ensure that their experiments do not cause physical or psychological harm to participants. This includes considering potential risks and taking steps to minimise them. If harm does occur, researchers must take immediate action to mitigate it and provide appropriate support.

IB Psychology Tutor Summary: In quantitative experiments, key ethical considerations include obtaining informed consent, maintaining confidentiality, being cautious with deception, and protecting participants from harm. Participants must understand and agree to the study voluntarily, personal data should be kept private, deception minimised, and their well-being safeguarded.