3.5: Research Ethics (Summary)
- Page ID
- 309633
\( \newcommand{\vecs}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \)
\( \newcommand{\vecd}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash {#1}}} \)
\( \newcommand{\dsum}{\displaystyle\sum\limits} \)
\( \newcommand{\dint}{\displaystyle\int\limits} \)
\( \newcommand{\dlim}{\displaystyle\lim\limits} \)
\( \newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)
( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\)
\( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\)
\( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\)
\( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\)
\( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)
\( \newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\)
\( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)
\( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\)
\( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\)
\( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\)
\( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\)
\( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\)
\( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\)
\( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\)
\( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\AA}{\unicode[.8,0]{x212B}}\)
\( \newcommand{\vectorA}[1]{\vec{#1}} % arrow\)
\( \newcommand{\vectorAt}[1]{\vec{\text{#1}}} % arrow\)
\( \newcommand{\vectorB}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \)
\( \newcommand{\vectorC}[1]{\textbf{#1}} \)
\( \newcommand{\vectorD}[1]{\overrightarrow{#1}} \)
\( \newcommand{\vectorDt}[1]{\overrightarrow{\text{#1}}} \)
\( \newcommand{\vectE}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash{\mathbf {#1}}}} \)
\( \newcommand{\vecs}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \)
\(\newcommand{\longvect}{\overrightarrow}\)
\( \newcommand{\vecd}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash {#1}}} \)
\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)Key Takeaways
Key Terms and Concepts
ETHICS
The branch of philosophy concerned with right and wrong conduct.
MORAL PRINCIPLES
Fundamental ethical guidelines including respect for persons, beneficence, and justice.
CONFEDERATE
A research assistant who pretends to be a participant in a study.
AUTONOMY
The right of individuals to make their own informed choices without coercion.
INFORMED CONSENT
Voluntary agreement to participate after receiving complete information about the research.
PRIVACY
The right to control access to information about oneself.
CONFIDENTIALITY
Keeping participants' information private and secure.
ANONYMITY
Collecting data without any identifying information about participants.
NUREMBERG CODE
The first major international ethics code, developed in 1947 after WWII Nazi experiments.
DECLARATION OF HELSINKI
World Medical Association guidelines for ethical medical research, established in 1964.
PROTOCOL
A detailed written description of research procedures submitted for ethical review.
BELMONT REPORT
A 1979 U.S. document establishing three core principles: respect for persons, beneficence, and justice.
JUSTICE
The principle that benefits and burdens of research should be distributed fairly.
RESPECT FOR PERSONS
The principle of treating individuals as autonomous agents and protecting those with diminished autonomy.
BENEFICENCE
The principle of maximizing benefits and minimizing harms to research participants.
FEDERAL POLICY FOR THE PROTECTION OF HUMAN SUBJECTS
U.S. regulations (the "Common Rule") governing research with human participants.
INSTITUTIONAL REVIEW BOARD (IRB)
A committee that reviews research protocols to ensure ethical treatment of participants.
EXEMPT RESEARCH
Low-risk research that is exempt from full IRB review.
EXPEDITED RESEARCH
Research with slightly more than minimal risk that qualifies for expedited review.
GREATER THAN MINIMAL RISK RESEARCH
Research requiring full IRB board review due to significant risk to participants.
APA ETHICS CODE
APA’s Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct.
CONSENT FORM
A form used to obtain informed consent.
DECEPTION
Intentionally misleading participants about some aspect of the research.
DEBRIEFING
Informing participants about the study's purpose, revealing any deception, and correcting misconceptions after participation.
PRE-SCREENING
Evaluating potential participants to determine their eligibility for a study.
Test Your Knowledge (answers at end of section)
1. The four general moral principles that apply to scientific research include all of the following EXCEPT:
a) Weighing risks against benefits
b) Acting responsibly and with integrity
c) Maximizing publication potential
d) Respecting people's rights and dignity
2. Informed consent requires:
a) That participants sign a form
b) That participants agree to participate after being informed of everything that might affect their decision
c) That participants understand all statistical analyses
d) That participants be paid for their time
3. The Nuremberg Code was written in 1947 in response to:
a) The Tuskegee syphilis study
b) Milgram's obedience research
c) Cruel research conducted by Nazi physicians during World War II
d) The MMR vaccine controversy
4. Deception in research is ethically acceptable according to the APA Ethics Code when:
a) It makes the study easier to conduct
b) The benefits outweigh risks, participants won't be harmed, no alternative exists, and participants are debriefed ASAP
c) Participants never find out
d) It is never acceptable
5. The very first thing a new researcher must do regarding ethics is:
a) Submit an IRB protocol
b) Know and accept ethical responsibilities
c) Recruit participants
d) Analyze data
6. If research poses minimal risk, then:
a) No benefits are needed to justify it
b) Even a small benefit is generally considered enough to justify it
c) It should never be conducted
d) Full IRB review is always required
Answer Key
1. C - Maximizing publication potential
The four moral principles are: weighing risks against benefits, acting responsibly and with integrity, seeking justice, and respecting people's rights and dignity.
2. B - That participants agree to participate after being informed of everything that might affect their decision
Informed consent means obtaining people's agreement to participate after informing them of everything that might reasonably affect their decision, not just signing a form.
3. C - Cruel research conducted by Nazi physicians during World War II
The Nuremberg Code was written in conjunction with the trials of Nazi physicians accused of cruel research on concentration camp prisoners.
4. B -The benefits outweigh risks, participants won't be harmed, no alternative exists, and participants are debriefed ASAP
The APA Ethics Code allows deception when benefits outweigh risks, participants won't be harmed, no alternative exists, and participants are debriefed as soon as possible.
5. B - Know and accept ethical responsibilities
The very first thing is to know and accept your ethical responsibilities, including reading ethics codes and understanding institutional policies.
6. B - Even a small benefit is generally considered enough to justify it
If research poses minimal risk, even a small benefit to participants, science, or society is generally considered enough to justify it.