Chapter 2-Ethics in Research

Question 1

two major areas of ethical consideration

Answer 1

the treatment of participants and the use of the research results

Question 2

how participants are treated depends on

Answer 2

regulations and laws, guidelines developed by psychologists and by the researchers own conscience

Question 3

principles of the Nuremberg Code

Answer 3

participants must give voluntary consent, research should yield results for the good of society that could not be obtained by other means, and the experiments should be conducted in a way that avoids all unnecessary physical and mental suffering and injury.

Question 4

Belmont Report 1979

Answer 4

Basic ethical principles that should guide human research: respect, beneficence and justice.

Question 5

Respect:

Answer 5

people need to be treated as individuals who can make their own decisions about what will and won’t happen to them and those who cannot make those decisions for themselves need to be protected

Question 6

Beneficence

Answer 6

humans should not be harmed and research should maximize benefits and minimize potential harm.

Question 7

Justice

Answer 7

the selection of participants needs to be done fairly

Question 8

Institutional Review Boards (IRBs)

Answer 8

committees of individuals with diverse backgrounds who review proposals for research with human participants, may include faculty from other academic departments or members of the community.

Question 9

Exemptions from IRBs

Answer 9

research that involves common educational practices and research in which the participants remain anonymous enough so that not even the researcher knows the identity of the participants.

Question 10

Informed consent form/information and consent form

Answer 10

a document given to each participant prior to participation in the project which describes the purpose of the study and what the participant will be asked to do as well as any known risks or benefits related to the study. Participant is informed they are free to stop participating at any point during the project.

Question 11

Informed consent for minors

Answer 11

form is read and signed by parent or guardian, and participant is asked if they want to be part of the experiment.

Question 12

APA

Answer 12

American Psychological Association

Question 13

American Psychological Association

Answer 13

a national organization of psychologist and people in related fields, which has developed a set of fundamental ethical principles in the conduct of research.

Question 14

Fundamental Ethical Principles in the Conduct of Research

Answer 14

1. Institutional Approval, 2. informed consent to research, 3. Informed consent for recording voices and images in research, 4. Client/patient , student and subordinate research participants, 5. dispensing with informed consent for research 6. Offering inducements for research participation, 7. deception in research, 8. Debriefing

Question 15

Institutional Approval

Answer 15

psychologists provide accurate information about their research proposals and obtain approval prior to conducting the research. Only moving forward in accordance with the approved research protocol.

Question 16

Informed consent to research

Answer 16

Inform about 1. purpose of research, duration and procedures 2. right to decline to participate or withdraw 3. foreseeable consequences of declining or withdrawing 4. reasonably foreseeable factors that may be expected to influence their willingness to participate (risks, discomfort, adverse effects. 5. any prospective research benefits. 6. limits of confidentiality. 7. incentives for participation 8 whom to contact for questions about the research and rights. Provide opportunity to ask questions and get answers.

Question 17

Informed consent to research involving experimental treatments at outset of study

Answer 17

Inform about 1. the experimental nature of the treatment. 2. the services that will or will not be available to the control group (if appropriate) 3. the means by which assignment to treatment and control groups will be made. 4. available treatment alternatives if an individual does not wish to participate in the research or wishes to withdraw. 5. compensation for or monetary costs of participating including whether reimbursement form the participant or a third-party payer will be sought.

Question 18

Informed consent for recording voices and images in research

Answer 18

must get informed consent from participants unless: 1. research consists of naturalistic observations in public places and is not anticipated that the recording will be used in a manner that could cause personal identification or harm 2. the research design includes deception and consent for the use of the recording is obtained during debriefing.

Question 19

Client/Patient, Student and Subordinate Research Participants

Answer 19

a. when conducting research psychologists take steps to protect he prospective participants from adverse consequences of declining or withdrawing from participation.
b. when research participation is a course requirement or an opportunity for extra credit, the prospective participant is given the choice of equitable alternative activities.

Question 20

Dispensing with Informed Consent for Research

Answer 20

may only do so when 1. research would not reasonably be assumed to create distress or harm and involves a. the study of normal educational practices, curricula or classroom management methods in educational settings b. only anonymous questionnaires, naturalistic observations or archival research for which disclosure of responses would not place participants at risk of criminal or civil liability or damage their financial standing, employ ability or reputation and confidentiality is protected. or c. the study of factors related to job or organizational effectiveness in organizational settings for which there is no risk to participant’s employ ability and confidentiality is protected. or 2. where otherwise permitted by law or federal or institutional regulations.

Question 21

Offering inducements for research participation

Answer 21

a. psychologists make reasonable efforts to avoid offering excessive or inappropriate financial or other inducements for research participation when such inducements are likely to coerce. b. when offering professional services as an inducement, psychologists clarify the nature of the services as well as the risks, obligations and limitations.

Question 22

Deception in Research

Answer 22

a. psychologists do not conduct a study involving deception unless they have determined tha thte use of deceptive techniques is justified by the study’s significant prospective scientific, educational or applied value and that effective non-deceptive alternative procedures are not feasible.
b. psychologists do not deceive prospective participants about research that is expected to cause pain or severe emotional distress.
c. explain any deception that is an integral feature of the design and conduct of an experiment to participants as early as is feasible, preferably at the conclusion of their participation, but no later than at the conclusion of the data collection and permit participants to withdraw their data.

Question 23

Debriefing

Answer 23

a. provide a prompt opportunity for participants to obtain appropriate information about the nature, results and conclusions of the research, and take reasonable steps to correct any misconceptions that participants may have of which the psychologists are aware.
b. if scientific or humane values justify delaying or withholding this information, take reasonable measures to reduce the risk of harm.
c. when you become aware that research procedures have harmed a participant, take reasonable steps to minimize the harm.

Question 24

Risk

Answer 24

the potential for physical or psychological harm to a research participant

Question 25

minimum risk

Answer 25

the probability and magnitude of harm or discomfort anticipated in the research are not greater in and of themselves than those ordinarily encountered in daily life and during the performance of routine physical or psychological examinations or tests.

Question 26

Deception/Concealement

Answer 26

Act of lying or misleading participants should only be conducted when no known alternative procedure is available and if the researcher does not lie about any factors that might affect their willingness to participate.

Question 27

debriefing

Answer 27

if studies involve deception or concealment, it is important to let participants know the true purpose of the study as soon as possible.

Question 28

Free Consent

Answer 28

given without coercion or pressure to comply, whether by position of authority or influence

Question 29

Confederate

Answer 29

a research assistant who posed as a participant (must be made clear during debriefing)

Question 30

Internet Research Ethics Concerns

Answer 30

Privacy of the information provided by participants via the internet, getting informed consent (verifying identity or age of consent, clarity as to when study begins and ends, and ambiguous as to whether a participant can drop out), how to know who was debriefed

Question 31

Ethical Dilemmas

Answer 31

the legality of needing to breach confidentiality in instances of known harm such as suicidality or homicidality.

Question 32

Ethical Dilemmas List

Answer 32

1. Privacy, 2. Deception, 3. Ethical treatment of animals

Question 33

Privacy

Answer 33

an invisible physical or psychological buffer zone or boundary around a person. Often inside those zones: studies on sexual behaviors, child-rearing, personal relationships.