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Short Answer
Psychology research ethics is the set of professional standards that govern how psychological studies are approved, run and reported. The American Psychological Association (APA) Ethics Code addresses it in Standard 8, Research and Publication. The British Psychological Society (BPS) publishes its own Code of Human Research Ethics (2021 edition).
Definition and Scope
Ethical oversight in psychology balances the search for knowledge against the rights and welfare of the people, and animals, who take part. This page covers research conduct only.
APA Standard 8 runs from 8.01 to 8.15 and covers the study lifecycle:
- Before the study: institutional approval (8.01), informed consent (8.02, 8.03), protections for client, student and subordinate participants (8.04), and limits on inducements (8.06). Many studies go through an Institutional Review Board or Research Ethics Committee.
- During the study: deception limits (8.07), debriefing (8.08) and humane care of animals (8.09).
- After the study: accurate reporting (8.10), no plagiarism (8.11), accurate publication credit (8.12), no duplicate publication of data (8.13), data sharing for verification (8.14) and reviewer confidentiality (8.15).
For ethics across the wider field, see social science research ethics.
How Psychology Research Ethics Works in Practice
Institutional approval (APA 8.01)
When institutional approval is required, psychologists give accurate information about their research proposals, obtain approval before conducting the research, and conduct it in accordance with the approved protocol.
Informed consent to research (APA 8.02)
Consent covers the purpose, expected duration and procedures; the right to decline or withdraw; the foreseeable consequences of declining or withdrawing; foreseeable risks, discomfort or adverse effects; prospective benefits; limits of confidentiality; incentives; and whom to contact with questions. Participants must have the opportunity to ask questions.
Deception and debriefing (APA 8.07 and 8.08)
Psychologists do not conduct a study involving deception unless they have determined that it is justified by the study’s significant prospective scientific, educational or applied value and that effective nondeceptive alternatives are not feasible. They do not deceive prospective participants about research reasonably expected to cause physical pain or severe emotional distress. Deception that is integral to the design is explained as early as feasible, preferably at the end of participation and no later than the end of data collection, and participants may withdraw their data.
Standard 8.08 requires a prompt opportunity for participants to obtain information about the nature, results and conclusions of the research, and reasonable steps to correct misconceptions. If a procedure harms a participant, psychologists take reasonable steps to minimize the harm.
The BPS Code of Human Research Ethics
The BPS Code (2021) sets out general principles that apply to all research contexts. It is the main UK counterpart to APA Standard 8 and is published on the BPS website.
APA Standard 8 at a Glance
| Standard | What it requires |
|---|---|
| 8.04 Client/patient, student and subordinate participants | Protect prospective participants from adverse consequences of declining or withdrawing; when participation is a course requirement or extra credit, offer equitable alternative activities |
| 8.05 Dispensing with informed consent | Only for specified low-risk cases such as normal educational practices, anonymous questionnaires, naturalistic observation or archival research with confidentiality protected, or where law or regulation permits |
| 8.07 Deception | Only when justified by significant value and no feasible nondeceptive alternative; never for research expected to cause physical pain or severe emotional distress |
| 8.10 Reporting research results | Do not fabricate data; correct significant errors in published data through a correction, retraction or erratum |
| 8.14 Sharing research data for verification | After publication, do not withhold data from competent professionals seeking to verify claims by reanalysis, provided participant confidentiality can be protected and proprietary rights do not preclude release |
Where Ethics Matters in Lab Practice
- Subject pools: where research participation earns course credit, Standard 8.04 requires an equitable alternative activity.
- Recording: consent is needed before recording voices or images for data collection, with exceptions such as naturalistic observation in public places (8.03).
- Animal research: Standard 8.09 requires compliance with laws and professional standards, supervision by trained and experienced psychologists, and minimizing discomfort, infection, illness and pain.
- Data integrity: Standard 8.10 prohibits fabricating data and requires correction of significant errors found after publication.
- Authorship: credit should reflect actual contributions (8.12); see gift and ghost authorship in psychology.
Pre-Submission Checklist Drawn from Standard 8
- Approval obtained before data collection (8.01).
- Consent materials cover each element listed in 8.02.
- If deception is used: justification documented, no expected severe distress, explanation planned (8.07).
- Debriefing opportunity planned (8.08).
- Alternatives offered where participation is for credit (8.04).
- Inducements are not excessive or coercive (8.06).
Common Misunderstandings
- Debriefing is only for deceptive studies: Standard 8.08 is written for participants generally, not only deception studies; 8.07(c) separately requires deception to be explained.
- Consent can always be skipped for surveys: Standard 8.05 allows it only for anonymous questionnaires, naturalistic observation or archival research where participants are not put at risk and confidentiality is protected, among other listed cases.
- Ethics review never allows deception: Standard 8.07 permits it when the stated conditions are met.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the primary ethical guidelines in psychology research?
For APA members and many US researchers, the main source is Standard 8 of the APA Ethics Code. In the UK, researchers use the BPS Code of Human Research Ethics.
Can psychologists use deception in research?
Yes, within limits. Standard 8.07 requires justification by significant value, no feasible alternative, no deception about research expected to cause physical pain or severe emotional distress, and an explanation as early as feasible.
What is debriefing in psychology research?
Under Standard 8.08, debriefing is a prompt opportunity for participants to obtain information about the nature, results and conclusions of the research, with reasonable steps to correct misconceptions.
Why is voluntary consent essential?
Standard 8.02 requires participants to be told of their right to decline or withdraw and of foreseeable risks, so that they can decide with the facts.
Sources
Checked 2026-11-07.
- American Psychological Association: Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct (checked 2026-11-07)
- American Psychological Association: Ethics Code, 2017 PDF with Standard 8 text (checked 2026-11-07)
- British Psychological Society: BPS Code of Human Research Ethics (checked 2026-11-07)
