Any experts in Ethics out there?

[rhinochopig]

What defines whether you need ethical approval for a non medical experiment? I can't go into too much detail, but for example if I wanted to test the reliability of drivers to stick to the speed limit on a simulator*, what defines whether I need to seek ethical approval from some august body?

Would it be sufficient to just seek participant approval, and comply with the Data Protection Act.

Ta

• Nothing to do with cars but a good enough analogue.

[Brown and Boris]

Unless there is a professional body involved it is really just about informed consent and compliance with the DPA if that is relevant. There shouldn't be any deceit involved unless it is truely justifiable.


You don;t have to jump hoops unless it is a medical thing but universities will have their own ethics comittees who block al the interesting stuff IMHO.

[rhinochopig]

Brown and Boris said:

Unless there is a professional body involved it is really just about informed consent and compliance with the DPA if that is relevant. There shouldn't be any deceit involved unless it is truely justifiable.


You don;t have to jump hoops unless it is a medical thing but universities will have their own ethics comittees who block al the interesting stuff IMHO.

Cheers B&B,

That was my understanding. Good old PH.

Thanks

[mrobertshaw]

I think most organisations have their own ethical guidelines that you must adhere to. I'm just starting my 3rd year psychology project and according to my tutor the ethics forms I have to fill out just means i'm insured if someoene sues me for pointing out they are overweight or insecure.

I'd say if there is no potential harm to anyone and you are 100% sure of this just go for it without.

[Brown and Boris]

mrobertshaw said:

I think most organisations have their own ethical guidelines that you must adhere to. I'm just starting my 3rd year psychology project and according to my tutor the ethics forms I have to fill out just means i'm insured if someoene sues me for pointing out they are overweight or insecure.

I'd say if there is no potential harm to anyone and you are 100% sure of this just go for it without.

That's what professional liability insurance is for, and generally as long as you have acted professionally and taken reasonable precautions the insurance company are OK and would expect to win. I supervised a university project last year and half of what the academic tutors saw as ethics issues were utter nonesense. I do research on a daily basis, sometimes quite invasiove personal reseach and having upfront information and proper informed consent is the key thing. The rsisk come when you tell them one thing and do another or tell them one thing and purposely exclude a material fact, which is the point where I would like ethical clearance.

[Mekon]

You know that there are at least two driving psychologists on here who work with driving sims, right? I wouldn't want to out them, but I can drop them both an email if you like.

I've only had to get NHS COREC approval when I've used NHS records or patients. Otherwise, I've used university department ethics committee approval.

[rhinochopig]

Mekon said:

You know that there are at least two driving psychologists on here who work with driving sims, right? I wouldn't want to out them, but I can drop them both an email if you like.

I've only had to get NHS COREC approval when I've used NHS records or patients. Otherwise, I've used university department ethics committee approval.

Thanks but its not cars - the example was a good enough analogue as I have to be careful what I say. I would be interested to know whether they sought ethics for their driving studies.

Cheers

[Simpo Two]

Ethics - between London and Suffolk.

[Mekon]

rhinochopig said:

Mekon said:

You know that there are at least two driving psychologists on here who work with driving sims, right? I wouldn't want to out them, but I can drop them both an email if you like.

I've only had to get NHS COREC approval when I've used NHS records or patients. Otherwise, I've used university department ethics committee approval.

Thanks but its not cars - the example was a good enough analogue as I have to be careful what I say. I would be interested to know whether they sought ethics for their driving studies.

Cheers

Only university psychology department ethics committee approval.