Research Ethics & Integrity w9 + w1 bits

Question 1

What are ethics?

Answer 1

Moral behaviour, how we should act - therefore how researchers should act.

Question 2

What were the Nazi human experiments conducted in the Third Reich and concentration camps?

Answer 2

Hypothermia exp: tanks of freezing cold water, measured time to death - to treat + prevent hypothermia for soldiers. High altitude exp: low pressure chambers - understand airmen ejecting at HA. Treatment: infected + maimed to test trt disease+wounds

Question 3

What was the Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment?

Answer 3

600 African-Americans with syphilis, 400 weren’t told or treated - could’ve been = many died unnecessarily + infected others as a result of not knowing. Eventually stopped after a leak.

Question 4

Why get ethical approval? - its not a legal requirement

Answer 4

Required if a member of BPS, and required by university and the research funder ERSC. Also to be published in a journal - requires ethical review + approval.

Question 5

What is the process of getting ethical approval within the school?

Answer 5

All studies are reviewed and can only proceed with approval. Committee reads proposal, decisions are guided by external policies - nurem, Helsinki, Belmont, BPS, funding bodies, local laws.

Question 6

What is consent?

Answer 6

All aspects influencing willingness should be given to ppts - informed of all objectives where possible. Consider level of understanding - age, mental capacity - parental consent + child assent.

Question 7

Why is deception an issue?

Answer 7

Some deception is allowed in order to not reveal the aim of the study - but it is unacceptable if unease is shown after the debrief.

Question 8

What is debriefing?

Answer 8

Deception should be resolved, individual should be returned back to their original emotional/physical state.

Question 9

What is confidentiality?

Answer 9

Need to assure that personal info will not be revealed - sexuality, attitudes towards contro subjects, mental health. Unless a child/vulnerable adult is at risk, money laundering or terrorism prevention. Or if individual/others health at risk - e.g. tumour discovered.

Question 10

Anonymity vs confidentiality?

Answer 10

Anonymous data can be stored indefinitely - cant be traced back to individuals. Confidential data can be traced back, is stored for a stated length of time but should be anonymised asap. ppts can withdraw it.

Question 11

What is scientific fraud?

Answer 11

e.g. collecting 2 different DVs but only reporting one. Stopping data collection once desired result is found - earlier than usual. Changing/falsifying data. Ok to be wrong but not to lie.

Question 12

How does journal hierarchy and publication bias contribute to scientific fraud?

Answer 12

There is a hard cut off point for significance. Interesting results are more likely to get published + in better journals. Publication record can affect getting a job/promotion and being awarded research funding.

Question 13

How to improve situation o f scientific fraud?

Answer 13

Open data - reduce opportunities for scientific fraud - entire datasets are published alongside the article.

Question 14

What is the Belmont report?

Answer 14

Protection of human subjects in biomedical and BEHAVIOURAL research. Respect for ppts - consent not deception. Maximise benefit + minimise risk. No exploitation of poor/vulnerable ppl to further research.

Question 15

What is the BPS code of conduct for practitioners?

Answer 15

Covers both research and clinical practice. Based on ethical principles of respect, competence, responsibility and integrity.

Question 16

What is the BPS code of human research ethics?

Answer 16

Respect for autonomy + dignity = ppts no subjects. Social responsibility, scientific value, maximise benefit minimise harm.

Question 17

What are the BPS guidelines to be followed at all times?

Answer 17

Ethical approval required for every study, consent, no deception, debriefing, right to withdraw, confidentiality.

Question 18

What is the Nuremberg code, following the Nuremberg doctor trials?

Answer 18

Areas of ethical consideration: informed consent, right to withdraw, avoidance of risks (pain + suffering), scientific validity (of experimenter + study). Forms basis of ethical conduct codes for medical, scientific + psych research.

Question 19

What is the Declaration of Helsinki?

Answer 19

By the world medical association, not legally binding - recommendations. Obtain consent, minimise harm, control ppts given best possible treatment following study. Research Ethics Committee.

Question 20

What did Popper say?

Answer 20

Data cannot prove a hypothesis is true - should falsify a hypothesis rather than try to confirm them.

Question 21

What did Kuhn say?

Answer 21

Normal scientists ignore abnormalities until a crisis = a change in world view leading to a paradigm shift, when a dominant paradigm emerges.

Question 22

What is basic research?

Answer 22

Research designed to understand fundamental psychological phenomena - e.g. stimulus factors affecting selective attention

Question 23

What is applied research?

Answer 23

Research designed to shed light on solving real-world problems - e.g. effect of phone use while driving

Question 24

Which type of realism is more critical, experimental or mundane? In relation to lab and field studies?

Answer 24

Experimental realism is more critical - found more in labs. Labs have minimal mundane realism, field have maximum.

Question 25

What is quantitative research?

Answer 25

Includes quantitative data and statistical analysis

Question 26

What is qualitative research

Answer 26

Includes narrative descriptions, content analysis, interviews