Ethical Research Contextualised Scenario

On week one students have a 2 hour introductory session in a mixed lecture/discussion format on research ethics and ethical theories (primarily distinguishing deontological and teleological theories) and ethical codes (with particular emphasis on the BPS ethical guidelines). Students are then given an anonymised version of a real-life research protocol and ethics application. The following week in group discussion they 1) identify the ethical dilemmas involved in the study from the viewpoint of the two theoretical perspectives taught in the previous week and 2) consider how the application might be dealt with by an ethics committee operating to BPS guidelines.