Ethics

The branch of philosophy that involves systematizing, defending, and recommending concepts of right and wrong conduct Moral principles that govern a person's or group's behavior

Why Have Them? Research on human behavior creates many ethical issues. Unfortunately on the quest for scientific knowledge can lead to exploiting people. When children take part in research, the ethical concerns are especially complex. Children are more vulnerable than adults to physical and psychological harm. In addition, immaturity makes it difficult or impossible for children to evaluate for themselves what participation in research will mean.

Why Have Them? For these reasons, special ethical guidelines for research on children have been developed by the federal government, by funding agencies, and by research-oriented associations such as the American Psychological Association Canadian Psychological Association The Society for Research in Child Development

Protection From Harm Children have the right to be protected from physical or psychological harm in research. If in doubt about the harmful effects of research, investigators should seek the opinion of others. When harm seems possible, investigators should find other means for obtaining the desired information or abandon the research

Protection From Harm Physical harm is any pain, injury, illness or impairment caused by another. Psychological experiments come with a certain level of risk. Even in the best of circumstances and with the best intentions, something might happen to someone. EX: researching the effects of exercise on a persons mood

Protection From Harm Psychological harm is any emotional or cognitive disturbances resulting from another's actions. Psychological studies often probe into the dark places of the human mind, asking things that wouldn't make polite conversation topics. Typically people don't ask about another's sexual abuse history and other painful experiences, but psychologists do. And in the quest to understand, it is not difficult for a researcher to overreach and push too hard to get an answer.

Informed Consent All research participants, including children, have the right to have explained to them, in language appropriate to their level of understanding, all aspects of the research that may affect their willingness to participate. When children are participants, informed consent of parents as well as others who act on the child’s behalf (such as school officials) should be obtained, preferably in writing. Children, and the adults responsible for them, have the right to discontinue participation in the research at any time

Informed Consent Informed consent provides participants with sufficiently detailed information on the study so that they can make an informed, voluntary and rational decision to participate. The purpose of the study Expected duration Procedures of the study Information on their right to decline or withdraw Foreseeable consequences of withdrawing or declining Potential risk, discomfort or adverse effects Prospective research benefits Incentives, such as payment or rewards Whom to contact for questions As part of obtaining informed consent, a researcher must allow time for questions the participants might have. The answers should provide sufficient information without compromising the study.

Privacy Children have the right to concealment of their identity on all information collected in the course of research. They also have this right with respect to written reports and any informal discussions about the research.

Privacy – Exceptions to the Rule Privacy is the protection of personal information provided to the psychologist that cannot be released unless established criteria are met. An example of common criteria to release information is that the safety of the individual or another is in jeopardy, meaning the person is suicidal or homicidal, and the psychologist is required to alert authorities. Another criterion that would allow information to be released is the removal of all identifying information.

Jeopardy & Unforeseen Consequences If information comes to the investigator's attention that may jeopardize the child's well- being, they have a responsibility to discuss the information with the parents/guardians and with experts in the field and then arrange the necessary assistance for the child. When research procedures result in undesirable consequences for the participant that were previously unforeseen, the investigator should immediately employ appropriate measures to correct these consequences, and should redesign the procedures if they are to be included in subsequent studies.

Knowledge of Results – Debriefing Children have the right to be informed of the results of research in language that is appropriate to their level of understanding. All ethical guidelines advise that special precautions be taken in the use of deception and concealment (when researchers observe children from behind one-way mirrors, give them false feedback about their performance) When these kinds of procedures are used with adult participants, debriefing, in which the researcher provides a full account and justification of the activities is typically understood. Despite explanations, children may leave the research situation with their belief in the honesty of adults undermined.

Beneficial Treatments Good research practice often requires the use of a no-treatment control group - a group of participants who do not get the treatment or program that is being studied. If experimental treatments are believed to be beneficial are under investigation, children in control groups have the right to alternative beneficial treatments if they are available.

Reinforcing The Ideas Psychological Research

10 Disturbing Child Experiments

Apply It Find a current article about an experiment or research being conducted on children. In paragraph form, respond to the following Part 1: Summarize the research/experiment Site link at the end of the paper Part 2: Are they following the code of ethics? If so – how? Examples? If not – what are they not doing? How could they correct it?