Question

If, as an employee of a company, you volunteer to participate in some psychological research for that company, what kinds of concerns might you have? Do current ethical guidelines address these concerns?

Answer 1

One of the most important things about the ethical standards that I would be concerned about is the no harm principle. Since some experiments might have the opportunity to harm the participants and the company is my boss, it might use all the ways to get things done from its employees, the no harm principle would protect me from such coercive power. Secondly, the company might exploit the employer – employee relationship by forcing me o do things that might make me do things that I haven’t agreed to do which the ethical guidelines would protect. Finally, my employer might use my confidential data and might use it against me. This is protected by confidentiality and privacy aspects of the research.

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