As part of its remit the Society provides a number of important guidelines and policy directives designed to inform and assist our members in the practical and professional application of psychology, from research and teaching to clinical practice. Highlighted here are some of our most vital pieces of documentation, along with a link to our wider database.
Standards and Guidelines
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BPS Code of Ethics and Conduct
The Society's Code of Ethics and Conduct is designed to guide all members of the British Psychological Society in their day-to-day professional conduct.
It focusses on our four primary ethical principles of respect, competence, responsibility, and integrity.
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BPS Practice Guidelines
The attached document presents a series of shared guidelines for practice for applied psychologists.
It was produced by a working group drawn from a wide range of Divisions and Special Groups in the Society.
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BPS Code of Human Research Ethics
This document lays out a set of general principles that are applicable to all research contexts.
These principles are intended to cover and be applicable to all research with human participants.
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BPS Guidelines for Psychologists Working with Animals
The attached document sets out the BPS guidelines for all members who are engaged in psychological activities involving living animals.
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Guidance on Teaching and Assessment of Ethical Competence in Psychology Education
This document has been designed to provide a framework for good practice in the teaching and assessment of ethical competence in psychology education.
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General Data Protection Regulation - FAQs
The GDPR, which comes into force on the 25th of May 2018, is an EU regulation that replaces the Data Protection Act of 1998.
Its aim is to protect and empower the data privacy of all EU citizens and to harmonize data privacy laws across Europe.
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Financial and related policies
These documents provide guidance regarding BPS policy and procedures in financial and related matters for all staff and active members involved in events, purchasing, and other activities on behalf of the Society.
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Supplementary Guidance on the Use of Social Media
As the BPS acknowledges that its members are increasingly using social networking sites to communicate with friends, family, peers and clients, we have produced this supplementary guidance document to provide some practical advice for using them responsibly.
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Policy and Guidelines Library
This link provides access to our searchable library of guidelines and policy documentation.
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Ethical Enquiries FAQ
This section contains helpful responses from the Society's Policy Team to a variety of ethical queries on research and practice issues.
