Discuss two or more ethical considerations in research investigating the link between emotion and cognition.

Refer to the paper 1 section B assessment criteria when awarding marks. These can be found under the “Your tests” tab > supplemental materials. 

The command term “discuss” requires candidates to offer a considered review of two or more ethical considerations in research investigating the link between emotion and cognition.

Candidates may refer to cognitive processes such as memory, thinking and decision-making, and schema.

Ethical considerations may include, but are not limited to:

• protection of participants during the study
• right to withdraw
• deceptive practices
• confidentiality of participant information
• informed consent
• debriefing.

Relevant studies may include, but are not limited to:

• Brown & Kulik’s (1977) study on flashbulb memory
• Neisser and Harsch’s (1992) study testing flashbulb memory theory with regard to the Challenger space shuttle explosion
• Talarico and Rubin’s (2003) study testing flashbulb memory theory with respect to 9/11
• Speisman et al.’s (1964) study on cognitive appraisal.

Critical discussion may include, but is not limited to:

• why deception is used
• the role of informed consent
• the necessity of protecting participants from harm
• decisions as to why certain ethical guidelines were/were not followed
• changes over time in adherence to ethical standards/guidelines.

If a candidate discusses only one ethical consideration, the response should be awarded up to a maximum of [3] for criterion B: knowledge and understanding. All remaining criteria should be awarded marks according to the best fit approach. 

Candidates struggled to identify areas of discussion of ethical issues regarding the interaction of emotion and cognition. Most candidates wrote about flashbulb memories or used studies about arousal (McGaugh and Cahill). Studies were described in detail on the stronger responses. Candidates often used a methodological evaluation of research, when it was not required by the question. Most responses discussed only one ethical consideration. Many responses focused on the point of "do no harm" psychological research, failing to discuss the cost vs benefit or the areas of uncertainty raised by this kind of research. Some candidates made unsustained assumptions about ethical considerations, stating that psychological studies permanently damaged subjects' cognition. In many cases, a list of all the ethical considerations was provided, but not an explicit link on how these ethical considerations should be taken into account when investigating human behaviour.