Ethical Guidelines in Psychology

Psychological research involves studying human behaviour, which means researchers have a responsibility to protect the welfare and dignity of their participants. The British Psychological Society (BPS) publishes a Code of Ethics and Conduct that all psychologists in the UK must follow.

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Why Are Ethics Important?

• Participants in research are real people who can be harmed physically, psychologically, or emotionally
• Without ethical guidelines, researchers might cause distress, invade privacy, or exploit vulnerable individuals
• Ethical research maintains public trust in psychology as a discipline
• Historical examples of unethical research (e.g. Milgram's obedience study) led to the development of stricter guidelines

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The BPS Code of Ethics: Key Principles

1. Informed Consent

Participants must be given sufficient information about the study to make an informed decision about whether to take part. They must agree to participate voluntarily, without pressure or coercion.