Ethics In Psychological Research Flashcards
Ethical Principles- Beneficence
Beneficence- maximize benefits, minimize harmful effects
Agree to participate
Risks- psychological or physical harm; loss of confidentiality
Risk of NOT conducting the study
Ethical Principles- Autonomy
Autonomy (or respect for persons)- capable of deciding whether or not to participate
Informed consent- written document that provides participants with all information that may influence their decision to participate
Federal Regulations
Institutional Review Board- review research conducted within the institution (pass on majority, not unanimity) At least five members One outside member At Oakland University 13 members 2 non-affiliated MDs 1 affiliated non-scientist 5 alternate members
Voluntary Conformed Consent `
Voluntary: without threat or undue inducement
Don’t tie participation to other things such as obtaining benefits of some kind, especially if the participants are vulnerable to coercion
Informed: knowing what a reasonable person in the same situation would want to know before giving consent
What about children, mentally disabled adults, poorly educated, prisoners, etc?
May need to appoint an advocate in addition to obtaining the participant’s consent
Minors get veto power; consent requires both child and parent agreement
Scientific Fraud
Plagiarism
Deliberately taking someone else’s ideas and presenting them as your own
Fabricating data
Deliberately misrepresenting your data in publications or making up data
Falsification
Using non-approved protocols
Changing wording in informed consent
Penalties for Scientific Fraud
Loss of government funding Loss of professional credentials Legal liability Loss of career Ostracism
Reasons for Scientific Fraud
Pressure to publish meaningful research
“Publish or perish”
Increase in articles published each year
Easier to falsify data without getting caught
Competition for jobs is intense
Hiring heavily influenced by publication record
