1. Milgram’s Obedience Experiment
Studies the phenomenon of obedience to an authority figure
Told participants the study was to measure the effects of punishment on learning
Participants were mislead about the severity of punishment; the “shock” administered were not real
Results
65% of participants administered “shocks” up to 450 volts
Was this study ethical?

2. Risks in Psychological Research
Physical harm
Stress
Loss of privacy and confidentiality
Guidelines:
The Belmont Report from the National Commission, 1979; Ethical principles and guidelines for the protection of human subjects of research
1982; APA published a book

3. Ethical or Unethical?
Men using a public restroom are observed secretly by a researcher hidden in a toilet stall, and the time they take to urinate is recorded (Middlemist, Knowles, & Matter, 1976).
Shoppers in a drugstore are exposed to a shoplifting confederate, and their reactions are observed (Gelfand, Hartmann, Walder, & Page, 1973).
Researchers hide under dormitory beds and eavesdrop on college students’ conversations (Henle & Hubbell, 1938).

4. Right to privacy
The circumstances under which researchers may collect data w/o participant’s knowledge is left to the investigator’s judgement –APA’s book Ethical Principles
Research involving the observation of people in public need not be reviewed by IRB --Federal guidelines

5. Informed Consent Informed consent form should:
Be read and signed by participant
Be easy to understand
Mention any risks
Clarify confidentiality
Assure that participation is voluntary
Inform subject about withdrawal
Provide the experimenter’s contact info

6. Issues w/ consent Autonomy Information
Minors need consent from a guardian
Coercion limits the participant’s freedom
Information
Too much can invalidate study
Deception is often used

7. Alternatives to Deception
Debriefing
Occurs after the completion of the study
Goals
Alternatives to Deception
Role-Playing
Simulation studies
Honest experiments

8. Regulations Human Research Animal Research
Institutional Review Board (IRB)
Exempt Research
Minimal Risk Research
Greater than minimal risk research
Animal Research
Institutional Animal Care and Use committee (IACUC)

9. Risks and benefits Do the costs outweigh the benefits?
If so, research is warranted
Are there alternative procedures?
Is this ethical / just / confidential?

10. Misrepresentation Fabrication of data Plagiarism
Result: inability to replicate data
Possible reasons -