Lesson 9.1.7

9.1.7 Ethics in research with humans and animals Quiz: Pearson Edexcel Psychology, Unit 9

20 questions

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Lesson 9.1.7, Ethics in research with humans and animals: 20 multiple choice questions for the Pearson Edexcel Psychology (9PS0), Unit 9: Psychological skills, written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. Which BPS ethical guideline requires that participants are told enough about a study to decide whether to take part?

    • Confidentiality
    • Informed consent
    • Debriefing
    • Protection from deception only

  2. What is the purpose of debriefing participants after a study?

    • To obtain consent for the first time
    • To explain the true aims of the study and to address any harm or concerns caused by participation
    • To recruit participants for the next study
    • To delete all of the data collected

  3. When is deception ethically justified in psychological research, according to the BPS guidance?

    • Only when no alternative method can answer the question and the benefits justify it, with debriefing afterwards
    • Whenever participants are paid
    • Whenever it makes the results more interesting
    • Never, under any circumstances

  4. Which ethical principle requires that participants can withdraw from a study at any time without penalty?

    • The right to withdraw
    • Operationalisation
    • Counterbalancing
    • Standardisation

  5. Why is confidentiality important in psychological research?

    • It protects participants' identities and personal data from being disclosed
    • It ensures participants are paid for their time
    • It requires participants to be observed without their knowledge
    • It ensures that all results are significant

  6. A researcher's study records participants' emotional reactions to a stressful task. Which ethical step is most important before the study starts?

    • A cross-sectional design
    • A random sample of animals
    • A double-blind procedure only
    • A risk assessment to identify and minimise potential psychological harm

  7. Which Act regulates the use of animals in scientific procedures in the UK?

    • Data Protection Act 2018
    • Equality Act 2010
    • Children Act 1989
    • Scientific Procedures Act 1986

  8. Which principle of animal research requires researchers to use the smallest number of animals necessary?

    • Replacement
    • Randomisation
    • Refinement
    • Reduction

  9. Which principle of animal research requires that procedures are modified to minimise pain and distress?

    • Reduction
    • Replacement
    • Refinement
    • Replication

  10. A researcher plans to show participants an upsetting video. Which ethical issue is most important?

    • The use of random allocation
    • The need to publish the results
    • The risk of psychological distress, which must be minimised and discussed with participants
    • The number of trials per participant

  11. Which ethical concern arises when a researcher observes people in a public place without their knowledge?

    • The risk of a Type I error
    • Invasion of privacy and lack of informed consent
    • The low reliability of the observations
    • The use of a repeated measures design

  12. Which BPS principle relates to researchers being competent for the work they undertake?

    • Competence
    • Debriefing
    • Confidentiality
    • Informed consent

  13. What does the principle of integrity require of psychologists?

    • Working only with animals
    • Being honest and accurate in conducting, reporting and representing research
    • Ensuring that participants are never inconvenienced
    • Publishing only positive findings

  14. A researcher finds an unexpected result that contradicts the hypothesis and decides to report only the supportive results. Which ethical principle is breached?

    • The right to withdraw
    • Confidentiality
    • Competence
    • Integrity

  15. Which of the following best describes the use of a placebo in an ethical study?

    • A method used only with animals
    • A control condition that gives participants an inactive treatment, with consent and appropriate safeguards
    • A treatment given secretly without any consent
    • A method of publishing findings anonymously

  16. Which action best protects an adolescent participant in a study on emotional wellbeing?

    • Excluding all debriefing to keep the study short
    • Recording the sessions without informing anyone
    • Obtaining consent from the parent or guardian and the adolescent, and providing support information afterwards
    • Using a deceptive cover story that might distress them

  17. Why do ethical guidelines require researchers to consider the balance between risk and benefit?

    • Because risk assessment is only needed for animal studies
    • Because risk and benefit are identical in every study
    • Because the potential harm to participants must be justified by the value of the research
    • Because benefit is always more important than participant welfare

  18. Which statement about ethical research with animals is most accurate?

    • Animal research must always involve harm to be valid
    • Animals should be used in any study that is convenient for researchers
    • Animal research has no ethical requirements because animals cannot consent
    • Ethical animal research requires justification, humane treatment and regulation under licence

  19. A study asks participants to report sensitive health information. Which ethical safeguard is most important?

    • Recording the data without any consent
    • Publication of participants' names in the report
    • Confidentiality and secure storage of data, with participants informed of how their data will be used
    • Use of covert observation to collect the data

  20. A researcher wants to store video recordings of participants' interactions. Which safeguard best protects the participants?

    • Keeping the videos on a personal phone for convenience
    • Anonymising and storing recordings securely, with access limited and consent covering how they will be used
    • Publishing the videos online so the public can check the findings
    • Showing the videos to the participants' classmates for feedback

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