Chapter 3: Ethics

Question 0

In certain situations, why are researchers allowed to deceive participants?

Answer 0

To maximize the validity of research findings.

Question 1

What does research ethics influence?

Answer 1

The public’s trust in science, scientists’ trust in each other, the research procedures used in a study, whether a study can be conducted, and the validity of a study’s findings.

Question 2

What are the ethical principles of the Hippocratic Oath?

Answer 2

Acting with integrity and competence, benefiting others, avoiding harm and injustice, and protecting confidentiality.

Question 3

What is the Nuremburg Code?

Answer 3

A set of ethical principles essential for a medical experiment to be “permissible.”

Question 4

People’s consent to participate in a study must always be…?

Answer 4

Voluntary, and they should be free to withdraw from the study at any time.

Question 5

Prior to giving consent, people should be…?

Answer 5

Informed about the study’s purpose and the potential risks to their personal welfare.

Question 6

What precautions should researchers take with regard to risks to participants?

Answer 6

All unnecessary risks should be avoided.

Question 7

What is an important factor in assessing the potential risks of a study to participants?

Answer 7

Whether the study yields results whose benefit to society outweighs the potential risks to participants.

Question 8

Who should conduct research?

Answer 8

Only qualified scientists.

Question 9

What is the Belmont Report?

Answer 9

An ethics code that provides the foundation for U.S. Federal regulations governing human subjects research.

Question 10

Federal agencies that fund human subjects research require compliance with what regulations?

Answer 10

The Belmont Report.

Question 11

What are the three primary ethical principles identified in the Belmont Report?

Answer 11

Respect for persons, beneficence, and justice.

Question 12

Describe the principle of “respect for persons” from the Belmont Report

Answer 12

Respecting the autonomy and decisions of people who are capable of self-determination and protecting individuals who are not capable of self-determination.

Question 13

Describe the principle of “beneficence” from the Belmont Report

Answer 13

The researcher’s obligation to maximize benefits and avoid or minimize possible harm to participants and society.

Question 14

Describe the principle of “justice” from the Belmont Report

Answer 14

All people -not just the wealthy or privileged- have access to therapies and other benefits derived from publicly funded research. Justice also requires potentially vulnerable groups not to be exploited.

Question 15

From the three ethical principles, the Belmont Report derived guidelines for…?

Answer 15

Obtaining consent, assessing the risks/benefits of research projects, and selecting participants in a just way.

Question 16

What did the Belmont Report stress to implement in order to assess a proposed study’s risks, benefits, and ultimate ethical justifiability?

Answer 16

The establishment of independent, external review committees.

Question 17

What is the Common Rule?

Answer 17

A core set of ethics regulations that builds on the Belmont Report and is used by many federal departments and agencies in the United States that find or conduct human subjects research.

Question 18

What does the APA Ethics Code describe?

Answer 18

General ethical principles and specific ethical standards to guide psychologists’ professional behaviour.

Question 19

What are the broad ethical principles to which all psychologists should strive to adhere to?

Answer 19

Beneficence and nonmaleficence, fidelity and responsibility, integrity, justice, and respect for people’s rights and dignity.

Question 20

Describe the principle of beneficence and nonmaleficence (APA)

Answer 20

Beneficence: Psychologists should strive to benefit those with whom they work. Nonmaleficence: Psychologists should be careful not to cause harm.

Question 21

Describe the principle of fidelity and responsibility (APA)

Answer 21

Fidelity: Psychologists should behave in a trustworthy manner. Responsibility: Adhering to professional codes of conduct and not exploiting people.

Question 22

Describe the principle of integrity (APA)

Answer 22

Psychologists should engineer and truthful and should not engage in fraud.

Question 23

Describe the principle of justice (APA)

Answer 23

Calls upon psychologists to recognize that the benefits of their research, and of psychological science as a whole, should be made available to all persons.

Question 24

Describe the principle of respect for people’s rights and dignity (APA)

Answer 24

Calls for psychologists to respect the dignity and worth of all people and the rights of individuals to privacy, confidentiality, and self-determination.

Question 25

What potential problem may arise from the language and terminology of ethic codes?

Answer 25

The broad language could produce ambiguity, of which could lead to a number of complications.

Question 26

An IRB must comprise of whom?

Answer 26

At least 5 members of varying backgrounds, including: 1) one member who is not affiliated with the institution, 2) one with a primarily scientific background, 3) one whose background is primarily not scientific.

Question 27

What options does an IRB have upon completing its evaluation of the ethics compliance of each proposed study?

Answer 27

1) approve the study, 2) disapprove the study, 3) require the investigator to modify the study and resubmit the proposal for further review.

Question 28

Can studies be exempt from IRB review?

Answer 28

Yes. For example: anonymous surveys, interviews, naturalistic observations, analysis if days that already exist, and the study if educational practices in common educational settings.

Question 29

Does exempt research have to comply with ethics regulations?

Answer 29

Yes.

Question 30

If a study doesn’t qualify for exempt status but falls within a level of minimal risk to participants, what may it be eligible for?

Answer 30

Expedited review.

Question 31

What is expedited review?

Answer 31

One or more IRB members can approve a research proposal, require modifications to it, or forward it to the full IRB for review.

Question 32

What is an IRB?

Answer 32

An independent institutional committee that evaluates whether proposed research with human participants complies with federal ethics regulations.

Question 33

To approve a study, an IRB must determine that two conditions are satisfied concerning potential risks of harm to participants. What are these two conditions?

Answer 33

1) the researcher has minimized any scientific necessary risks to participants, 2) the potential benefits must outweigh the level I risk

Question 34

The evaluation of risks relative to risks is commonly called…?

Answer 34

“Weighing the risk/benefit ratio.”