Research activity accompanies the work of every psychologist, regardless of their specialization. Counseling psychologists, psychotherapists, and psychoanalysts record citizens’ requests for help, systematize observations on the progress of resolving the personal problems of those who have sought help, write articles, speak at conferences, and participate in meetings. These forms of activity are, to some extent, research activities and are subject to the ethics of scientific research.
The ethics of science considers two questions:
- ethics of the content of scientific research;
- ethics of professional relations in science.
In the 1940s, the problem of research ethics was raised for the first time, following the Nuremberg Trials. A “Nuremberg Code” was developed, which defended the rights and well-being of research participants. It included principles such as the voluntary consent of participants, an understanding of the goals and risks, and the ability to withdraw from the study at any time. The Code was originally developed for the sphere