📚 Topic Summary
Minimizing psychological distress in social psychology experiments involves employing various ethical guidelines and best practices to protect participants from potential harm. These practices include obtaining informed consent, ensuring confidentiality, providing thorough debriefing, offering counseling or support services if needed, and designing experiments that minimize exposure to stressful or harmful stimuli. The goal is to balance the pursuit of knowledge with the well-being of the individuals involved in the research, upholding the ethical standards of psychological research.
🧠 Part A: Vocabulary
Match the terms with their definitions:
| Term |
Definition |
| 1. Informed Consent |
A. Explaining the purpose and procedures of the study after participation. |
| 2. Debriefing |
B. Protecting participants' identities and data from unauthorized access. |
| 3. Confidentiality |
C. A participant's agreement to participate after being informed about the study's risks and benefits. |
| 4. Psychological Distress |
D. Minimizing potential harm to participants' mental and emotional well-being. |
| 5. Risk Mitigation |
E. Emotional suffering or discomfort experienced by participants. |
✍️ Part B: Fill in the Blanks
Complete the following paragraph with the correct terms:
In social psychology experiments, it is crucial to obtain _________ from participants before they begin. After the experiment, a thorough _________ should be conducted to explain the true nature of the study. Researchers must also ensure _________ to protect participants' personal information and implement strategies for _________ to minimize potential harm and _________.
🤔 Part C: Critical Thinking
Discuss the ethical considerations researchers must balance when designing social psychology experiments. Provide examples of specific safeguards that can be implemented to protect participants from psychological distress.