Protection from Harm or Discomfort

Definition

This is an ethical principle in psychology that ensures participants are not subjected to physical or psychological harm during a study.

Related terms

Risk-Benefit Analysis: This involves weighing the risks against benefits of conducting a study. If potential harm outweighs benefits, then the study should not be conducted.

Physical Harm: This refers to any physical injury or discomfort caused to participants during a research study which must be avoided.

Psychological Harm:

This refers to any emotional distress caused by participation in a research study. Researchers have an obligation to minimize such harm.