PSYC*2360 Chapter 3: Ethics and Open Science Flashcards
What are ethics?
The application of moral principles to help guide one’s decisions and behaviour
T or F: There is no definitive right or wrong answer to ethical dilemmas.
True
According to the utilitarian perspective, what should ethical decisions be based on?
Doing the greatest good for the greatest number of people
According to the altruistic perspective, what should ethical decisions be based on?
Helping without personal benefit
According to the egoism perspective, what should ethical decisions be based on?
Acting in accordance with one’s own self-interest
What is the Belmont Report?
An outline of ethical standards for research
What are the three basic ethical principles outlines in the Belmont Report?
- Beneficence
- Justice
- Respect for persons
When was the Belmont Report published?
The 1970s
What is the systematic process of weighing all potential and known benefits against potential and known risks of a proposed study?
A cost-benefit analysis
What is beneficence?
Actively promoting the welfare of others
The notion that benefits should be directed towards society, the field, participants, etc. and not personal benefits for the researcher fall under which principle outlined in the Belmont Report?
Beneficence
What is nonmaleficence?
The ethical obligation to mitigate or eliminate risks to study participants
What is the difference between confidentiality and anonymity?
- Confidentiality: Individual participant information and results are kept secret from the public, but not necessarily from researchers
- Anonymity: Participants remain unidentifiable, even to the researchers
Is it easier for researchers to maintain the confidentiality or anonymity of participants?
Confidentiality
Does evidence suggest participants are more concerned with confidentiality or anonymity?
More concerned about confidentiality
What is being considered when identifying the potential beneficial application of study findings when doing a cost-benefit analysis?
The cost of not doing research
Ensuring fairness in selecting study participants and in determining who will receive the benefits of participation, and who will bear the risk, refers to which principle outlined in the Belmont Report?
Justice
What is the ethical way to distribute the costs and benefits of a study among participants?
Randomly assign participants to groups
What is clinical equipoise?
Uncertainty as to which of the two treatment options is more beneficial when conducting a study
During a study, if there is no longer clinical equipoise, what is the ethical course of action?
To end the study and make the more effective treatment available to all
What does “respect for persons” refer to in the Belmont Report?
Ensuring the autonomy of participants
Freely making an informed decision about participation in research is referred to as what?
Autonomy
What are the three main details outlined in an informed consent form?
- The general purpose and nature of the study
- The potential risks and benefits of participation
- The right to refuse participation or terminate participation at anytime without penalty