Ethics and Research

Ethics is Educational Research Committee on Scientific and Professional Ethics of American Psychological Association -- Ethical Principals of Psychologists and Code of Conduct -- Ethical Guidelines -- Treatment of Subjects Ethical Standards of the American Educational Research Association IRB-Institutional Review Board -- Weigh the risk involved for subjects --Determine whether informed consent has been planned for plans for debriefing participants -- Give approval to conduct research (institution-participants)

Statement of Ethical Principles Ethics- Behavior conforming to the standards of conduct of a given profession or group Planning the study 1. The educator carries out the investigation with respect and concern for the dignity and welfare of the people who participate and with the cognizance of the federal and state regulations and professional standards governing the conduct of the research with human participants. -- Be responsible for careful evaluation of ethical acceptability -- Question as to whether the participants will be at minimal or at risk

Statement of Ethical Principles (continued 1) -- Consider all the ethical treatments of research -- Establish a clear and fair agreement with the participants prior to participating by informing them of all aspects of the study a. Make full disclosure with additional safeguards to protect the welfare and dignity of the participants b. Be willing to accept the participants willingness to decline or withdraw from participating 2. Protect participants from any discomforts physically and mentally

Statement of Ethical Principles (continued 2) 3. After data has been collected share the information with the participants 4. Information is confidential unless other wise agreed upon in advance

Ethical Issues Protecting the participants from ham 1. Risks should not go beyond that of what would be a normal day to day living 2. Participants should not be exposed to undue physical or psychological ham, discomfort, ridicule, stress, embarrassment, or loss of self-esteem Informed consent 1. Participants should be give choices as to whether to or not to participate 2. Participants should be given the right to withdraw

Ethical Issues (Continued 1) 3. Participants should be voluntary 4. Participants should be given some information about the study, but not too much information because it may cause them to react differently to the survey or interview 5. Participants should sign off and have a copy of the consent form informing them of the research project Right to privacy or confidentiality 1. Participants have a right to privacy 2. Names are removed from the study 3. Data is to be held in confidence

Ethical Issues (Continued 2) 4. No one else other than the research has the information 5. The researcher needs to keep the nature and quality of the participant’s performance strictly confidential unless permission has been asked for and granted Deception or honesty 1. Research needs to be reported in a complete and honest fashion 2. There should be no misrepresentations or intentionally misleading others as to the nature of the findings 3. Always give credit where credit is due 4. If deception is necessary it needs to be justified 5. Inform participants of the deception if it is going to be used

Research with Children Informed consent of parents or of those legally designated as caregivers is required for participants defined as minors (18 and under) Signers need to be supplied with all the necessary information about the research Researchers do not present themselves as diagnosticians or counselors when reporting the information nor or do they report information given in confidence Children may never be coerced into participating nor should be any remuneration for participating

Ethics and Research “Now, I can’t require you to participate in this study, but if you want to get a good grade in this year…” “Hey, wait a minute. This is unethical!”

Examples of Unethical Research Practices “ We are required to ask you to sign this consent form. You do not need to read it. It’s just routine” “A few cases seemed quite different from the rest, so we deleted them” “ Yes, as a employee in this company, you are required to participant in this study” “There is no need to tell any of the parents that we are modifying the school. Lunch diet for this study.” “Require employees to participate in the discussions might be harmful to some one, but it is necessary for our research.”