On conducting ethically-sound psychological science in the metaverse
Article
Cockerton, T., Zhu, Y. and Dhami, M. 2024. On conducting ethically-sound psychological science in the metaverse. American Psychologist. 79 (1), pp. 92-108. https://doi.org/10.1037/amp0001211
Type | Article |
---|---|
Title | On conducting ethically-sound psychological science in the metaverse |
Authors | Cockerton, T., Zhu, Y. and Dhami, M. |
Abstract | As the next generation of the internet, the metaverse is an immersive three-dimensional (3D) world that incorporates both physical and virtual environments. The metaverse affords numerous advantages for advancing our theoretical and practical understanding of human cognition, emotion, and behavior, as well as shaping our methodological approach to conducting psychological science. However, undertaking research in a world which merges the physical and virtual, also presents new and unique ethical challenges that are not addressed by current ethical guidelines such as the Belmont Report, the American Psychology Association Code of Ethics, and the Association of Internet Researchers Internet Research Ethical Guidelines. We discuss the different domains of the metaverse relevant to psychological research, and consider how three categories of ethical challenges (i.e., ‘respect for persons’, ‘beneficence’, and ‘justice’) may arise when conducting research in the metaverse. We also provide recommendations for addressing these challenges which include reconfiguring existing ethical guidelines as well as creating new ones. Together, these can inform and assist researchers and institutional review boards in making decisions about conducting ethically-sound psychological science in the metaverse. |
Keywords | metaverse; research ethics; virtual reality; human digital twins; Belmont Report |
Sustainable Development Goals | 10 Reduced inequalities |
Middlesex University Theme | Creativity, Culture & Enterprise |
Publisher | American Psychological Association (APA) |
Journal | American Psychologist |
ISSN | 0003-066X |
Electronic | 1935-990X |
Publication dates | |
Online | 01 Jan 2024 |
01 Jan 2024 | |
Publication process dates | |
Deposited | 14 Jun 2023 |
Submitted | 11 Aug 2022 |
Accepted | 01 Jun 2023 |
Output status | Published |
Accepted author manuscript | |
Copyright Statement | Copyright © American Psychological Association, 2024. This paper is not the copy of record and may not exactly replicate the authoritative document published in the APA journal. The final article is available at: https://doi.org/10.1037/amp0001211 |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.1037/amp0001211 |
Related Output | |
Is supplemented by | https://doi.org/10.1037/amp0001211.supp |
Language | English |
https://repository.mdx.ac.uk/item/8q680
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