Unit 6

Question 1

Why are ethics important in research methods?

Answer 1

ensures balance between:
- rights of living beings
- need to broaden scientific knowledge

Question 2

What do ethical behaviours play a key role in?

Answer 2

promoting objectivity
-> prevent fabrication and falsification of date out of e.g. a conflict of interest or other biases

Question 3

Why is it important to adhere to ethical norms in research?

Answer 3

1. Norms promote aims of research (e.g. knowledge, truth, etc.)
2. Promote values important for collaborative work (e.g. fairness, respect, etc.)
3. make sure researchers can be held responsible
4. help build public support
   -> great quality and integrity -> funds

Question 4

Which where the first two articles that ethical standards in research originated from?

Answer 4

Nuremberg code
Declaration of Helsinki

Question 5

Nuremberg code

Answer 5

1947
Nazi doctors put to trial

Question 6

Declaration of Helsinki

Answer 6

1964
last revision: 2013
Revision of nuremberg code accepted by World medical assembly (WMA)
Recommendations for doctors in clinical research

Question 7

What did the Nuremberg code and the declaration of Helsinki lack and what did it lead to?

Answer 7

didnt explicitly adress behavioral research (seen as more applicable to medicine)
-> Better approach to human research needed
-> Belmont report

Question 8

Belmont report

Answer 8

1979
Ethical principles for protection of human subjects in research
Basic Principles:
- Beneficence
- Respect for people (autonomy)
- Justice

Question 9

What is one of the major studies responsible for the need of the proper ethical guidelines provided by the Belmont report and what happened in it?

Answer 9

Tuskegee Syphillis Study
To track disease’s full progression
-> no help provided to African American participants
-> severe health problems and death
-> Men given Placebos instead of Penicillin ( recommended treatment for Syphilis since 1947)

Question 10

When did the Tuskegee syphilis study take place?

Answer 10

1932-1974

Question 11

What are psychologists commited to according to the preamble of the APA Ethics Code?

Answer 11

increasing scientific and professional knowledge of behaviour
using knowledge to improve the condition of individuals, organizations and society

Question 12

Principles for ethical conduct

Answer 12

Beneficence and Nonmaleficence
Fidelity and responsibility
Integrity
Justice
Respect for People’s Rights and dignity

Question 13

Beneficence and Nomaleficence

Answer 13

Psychologists strife to benefit and safeguard those with whom they work
-> take care
-> avoid or minimise harm

Question 14

Fidelity and responsability

Answer 14

Establishment of relationship of trust
-> professional and scientific responsability
Consultation and cooperation with other professionals to serve best interest of patients

Question 15

Integrity

Answer 15

Accuracy, honesty, truthfulness in science, teaching and pracitice
-> dont engage in fraud
-> need for consideration of lies, and their risks, if they could maximise benefits and minimise harm

Question 16

Justice

Answer 16

entitles everybody to access and benefit from contributions of psychology
->try best to prevent biases and unjust practice

Question 17

Respect for people’s rights and Dignity

Answer 17

Rights to privacy, confidentiality and self-determination
-> respect differences
-> limit effect of biases
-> informed consent

Question 18

risk-benefit ratio

Answer 18

relationship between risks to participants and benefits for participants and society

Question 19

Potential risks for participants

Answer 19

physical harm
confidentiality and privacy
Stress and Distress

Question 20

Debriefing

Answer 20

occurs after completion of a study
explains purpose of the research
opportunity to deal with issues of withholding information, deception and potential harmful effects

Question 21

Why are ethical review boards established?

Answer 21

to ensure that rights and welfare of research subjects are protected

Question 22

Exempt, minimal risk and at-risk research

Answer 22

Exempt research: no risk
Minimal risk research: minimal risk involved
At-risk research: higher risk

Question 23

Autonomy issues

Answer 23

Working with minors: consent of parents needed alongside assent (consent of a minor)
coercion: procedure that limits freedom to consent

Question 24

Why is it sometimes necessary to withhold information?

Answer 24

providing too much information could invalidate results

Question 25

Forms of fraud

Answer 25

1. scientist fails to collect data
   -> manufactures it
2. collected data altered or ommited to make results look better
3. some data collected, missing data guessed or created to fit expectations
4. study suppressed because results failt to come out as expected

Question 26

Why is fraud easily detected?

Answer 26

Faked results wont be replicated
may be detected or suspected during peer-review process
collaborators may suspect it

Question 27

Why do people fake results?

Answer 27

individual or societal reasons
academic reward system
publish or perish pressure