Ethics Flashcards
A system of ethics is…
a set of standards governing the conduct of a person or the members of a profession
Researchers in psychology are obligated to follow…
the code of ethics established by the APA
3 studies that occurred before the code existed
- Little Albert Study
- McGraw’s Study
- Dennis’ Study
Little Albert’s Study
Purpose: see if Albert could be conditioned to be afraid
Conditioning procedure: pair loud noise with rat
McGraw’s Study
Purpose: nervous system maturation
Procedure: repeated pin pricks to children
Dennis’ Study
Purpose: see how early development would be affected by reducing environmental and social stimulation
Procedure: raising children in isolation
The APA published their first code of ethics in 1953 which was influenced by…
the Nuremberg code of ethics
Currently the ethics code includes a set of 5 general principles:
- Beneficence & Nonmaleficence
- Fidelity and Responsibility
- Integrity
- Justice
- Respect for People’s Rights and Dignity
What is the role of the Institutional Review Board (IRB)?
The basic purpose of IRBs is to formally evaluate whether any research demonstrates ethical pitfalls
Proposals that are exempt from full review
- Conducted in an educational setting for training purposes
- Purely naturalistic observations
- Survey research with no sensitive topics
- Archival research
Proposals receiving expedited review
- Psychology lab experiments
- Participants won’t experience uncomfortable levels of stress or have their behaviour manipulated
Proposals requiring a full review
- All other research that is not listed
Consent
Sufficient information to decide whether to participate
Deception rational
Desire to have subjects act naturally
Milgram Study
- Studied obedience
- Used deception on participants
2 studies that illustrate ethical violations
Willow Brook Hepatitis Study
Project MK-ULTRA
Willow Brook Hepatitis Study
- Children with mental disabilities were purposely infected with hepatitis
- Parents coerced into admitting their children
Project MK-ULTRA
- Mostly soldiers but also people from the American public were given doses of LSD without their knowledge
How do infants give consent?
Parents provide informed consent
How do children give consent?
Parents provide informed consent AND children assent to the study
Debriefing serves 2 related purposes:
- Dehoaxing
2. Desensitizing
Dehoaxing
Revealing the true purpose of the study and the hypothesis being tested
Desensitizing
Process of reducing stress or other negative feelings that might have been experienced
2 major types of serious misconduct in science:
- Plagiarism
2. Data falsification
