Ethics in Social Psychology (Adapted from UW Human Subjects Division Slides)

Ethics Overview What is the Institutional Review Board Why do we need it (history) What is the process of getting a research study approved Conducting ethical research Quick activity

Institutional Review Board Ensure safe and ethical research with people Protect the welfare and rights of subjects IRB has the authority to: Approve studies Require modifications Disapprove studies

Institutional Review Board Committee Federal level – need 5 members UW – has 9 members 1 Scientist 1 Non-affiliated/community member 1 Non-scientist 1 Student (UW) Other members with expertise to review research

What do IRB committees look for? Risk of harm versus potential benefits of study Protecting subject’s privacy and confidentiality (recruitment and data management) Consent process Why?

Lessons from Biomedical Research Tuskegee Syphilis Study (1932-1972) Nazi War Crimes

Behavioral research – just as culpable? Zimbardo Stanford Prison Study Milgram Study

Behavioral research – just as culpable? Foulks (1979) – Alcoholism in Barrow, Alaska Small community NYT published article “Alcohol plagues Eskimos” Controversy over reinforcing drunken Alaskan Native stereotype and revealing identities

Belmont Report (1979) Basic Ethical Principles Respect for persons (autonomy, protection of those with limited autonomy) Beneficence (maximize benefits and minimize harm) Justice (reasonable procedures that are administered fairly)

What is research? Are you doing research? A systematic investigation, including research development, testing, and evaluation, designed to develop or contribute to generalizable knowledge. 2. Are you doing research with humans? A living individual whom the investigator obtains data from interaction or identifiable private info.

Types of research and levels of review Exempt – no or very little risk to subjects Minimal risk – no more risk than encountered by the average person in his/her daily activities Full review – more risk than would typically be encountered by average person in daily activities Not human subjects research – e.g., for class, can’t publish

Parts of an IRB application Purpose – what are you trying to find out? Subjects – who will be involved in your study? Procedures – what EXACTLY are you going to to do? Data – where is it from? What is it? Who is it from? How it being collected? How is it kept? Consent

Consent Explains the study in a manner understandable to subjects Written in a 6th-8th grade level, with adjustments for children In a language subjects can understand Also what does participating or not participating mean for the subject There’s also information sheets

Not just when collecting data: Also analyzing data and writing! Examples Plagiarism (e.g., M. Constantine in 2008) Fabricating data (e.g., D. Stapel this year) Unethical research affects integrity of the field

Conducting ethical research Some principles Honesty Objectivity Carefulness Openness Confidentiality Responsible publication Social responsibility

More info on research ethics UW Forum on Science Ethics & Policy UW Dept of Philosophy on Values in Society UW Dept of Bioethics (School of Medicine)

Exam Information* Next Wednesday (1 hour) 25 Multiple Choice Questions Lecture, reading, & assignments are fair game Including study of the day and guest lecturers

Exam Information* What is social psychology all about? Important terminology Understanding and interpreting experimental findings and process Many of the questions will be applications of what you have learned, not just memory Read about the design of a novel experiment and identify variables or appropriate conclusions

Example When following the scientific method, results of an experiment may lead to: Proof of a theory Increased confidence in a theory Both A & B Neither A nor B