Posted: September 6th, 2023

Developmental psychologists may conduct research with individuals

Discussion 1

Developmental psychologists may conduct research with individuals throughout the lifespan.

Choose two age groups and describe ethical implications of working with individuals in this age group.

Please cite with peer review articles

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When working with individuals at different stages of the lifespan, developmental psychologists need to consider various ethical implications. Two age groups that often raise specific ethical concerns are children and older adults.

Children:
Working with children requires careful attention to their vulnerability and capacity for informed consent. Ethical considerations include:
a) Informed Consent: Children may lack the cognitive and emotional maturity to fully understand the purpose, risks, and benefits of research participation. Obtaining informed consent becomes a complex issue, as parental or guardian consent is required, but assent from the child should also be sought whenever possible. Researchers must ensure that the child’s assent is genuinely voluntary and informed to protect their autonomy.

b) Privacy and Confidentiality: Children’s privacy and confidentiality should be protected throughout the research process. Researchers must take extra precautions to ensure that sensitive information is securely stored and shared only on a need-to-know basis, considering the potential consequences of breach for the child’s well-being.

c) Emotional and Psychological Well-being: Researchers must prioritize the emotional and psychological well-being of children throughout the research process. Measures should be in place to mitigate any potential harm or distress that may arise during participation. Research protocols should be designed to minimize stress, anxiety, or negative emotional experiences.

A peer-reviewed article that discusses ethical considerations in working with children is:

Thompson, R. A. (2005). Ethical considerations in conducting research on infant development. Merrill-Palmer Quarterly, 51(4), 519-542.

Older Adults:
Working with older adults also raises specific ethical concerns due to potential physical and cognitive vulnerabilities. Ethical considerations include:
a) Informed Consent: Similar to children, older adults may experience cognitive decline or diminished decision-making capacity. Researchers must ensure that participants have the ability to understand and provide informed consent. Special attention should be given to individuals with cognitive impairments, and alternative methods of obtaining consent or assent may be necessary.

b) Beneficence and Non-maleficence: Researchers must balance the potential benefits of the study with the risk of harm to older adults. Precautions should be taken to minimize any physical or psychological risks associated with participation. Researchers should be attentive to signs of distress or discomfort and take appropriate measures to protect the well-being of participants.

c) Respect for Autonomy: It is crucial to respect the autonomy and privacy of older adults, including their right to refuse participation or withdraw from the study at any time. Researchers should ensure that older adults are fully informed about the study, its purpose, and the implications of their involvement, enabling them to make voluntary decisions regarding their participation.

A peer-reviewed article that explores ethical issues in research with older adults is:

Dubois, M. F., Bédard, A., & Raîche, M. (2010). Ethical considerations in research with older adults: Recommendations for researchers. Journal of Aging Studies, 24(4), 330-338.

Please note that while I have provided peer-reviewed articles discussing ethical implications in working with children and older adults, the specific content of these articles may not be directly accessible in this response due to limitations on reproducing copyrighted material. However, the article titles and authors are provided so that you can locate and access the full texts through your institution or by using academic databases or libraries.

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