2.5 The Ethics of Science: What’s Right?

Question 1

What are the seven primary/most important rules that govern the conduct of Psychological research?

Answer 1

Informed Consent

Freedom of coercion

Protection from harm

Risk-benefit analysis

Deception

Debriefing

Confidentiality

Question 2

What’s an REB?

Answer 2

Research Ethics Board

Question 3

What are the three R’s used to guide the ethical use of animals in science?

Answer 3

Replacement - proof that there is no alternative

Reduction - smallest number of animals possible

Refinement - procedures must be modified to minimize the discomfort, infection, illness, and pain of animals

Question 4

Once data is collected, who ensures that it’s ethically analyzed and reported?

Answer 4

Nobody.

Psychology, like all sciences, works on the honour system. No authority is charged with monitoring what psychologists do with the data they’ve collected, and no authority is charged with checking to see if the claims they make are true.