1. Chapter 3 Ethics in Research

2. Regularly Reviewed Ethics Codes
Despite the tentative nature of ethics, a number of codes have been developed:
The APA Code: Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct.
Local and Federal Laws
Dept of Health and Human Services
Federal Drug Administration

3. Most Basic Ethical Principles in Research
Participation Must Be Voluntary
Researchers Must Obtain Informed Consent
Researchers Must Maintain
Participant Confidentiality

4. Institutional Review Board (IRB)
Approves all research on humans
Checks for technical validity
Tries to minimize risks to participants
Considers risks in relation to benefits
Minimum of five members
Including one non-scientist
One that is not affiliated with the institution
Approval is by simple majority
Review can be full, expedited, or exempt
[your CITI assignment is due soon]

5. APA Ethics Code Entitles Participants
To a Competent Investigator
To Be Protected from Harm
A Written Informed Consent Document* that details in everyday language:
Subject Responsibilities
Risks and Benefits to Subject
Penalties for Leaving the Study
Full Reason for Study
Guarantee of Privacy
*Debriefing may be necessary

6. Informed Consent
Requires the capacity to give consent (as opposed to assent)
Requires that participants are provided with enough information to make an assessment of the risks or benefits associated with the research.
Should not be obtained through coercion.

7. Deception in Research
Only used if non-deceptive alternative procedures aren’t feasible.
Cannot be performed if it will cause physical or emotional pain
Deception should be explained to participants as soon as possible.
Debriefing
participants told the purpose and expected results of experiment.

8. Ethics in Scientific Writing
Truth in Data Reporting
Refrain from Plagiarism
Presenting another person’s work as your own
Take Authorship for only Work Performed
Publish Data only Once
Share Data after Publication
Review the Work of Others Professionally
Do not falsify results
Correct errors in published reports as soon as possible
No plagiarism
Take credit only when appropriate
Share data with other competent professionals after research results have been published.

9. Fraud In Research A Few Notable Cases of Fraud:
Walter Levy’s ESP experiment
Sir Cyril Burt’s twin studies
Karen Ruggiero’s studies on Women of Color
Why so few?
Successful experiments are replicated
Science is Progressive and Self-Correcting

10. Caring for Animals in Research
APA Guidelines for Ethical Conduct in the Care and Use of Animals
Minimize discomfort
Sanitary and comfortable conditions
Adequate food and water (taking into account experimental protocol)
Care by a licensed veterinarian
Reduction, Refinement, Replacement
Experiments approved by the Animal Care and Use Committee (ACUC)

11. Animal Research Animal Welfare
Generally accepted term for concerns about the care and use of animals in research
Animal Rights
Idea that animals have the same rights as people. Not generally accepted.
Speciesism
Term used to describe the discrimination of animals (treated differently than people).
The Case of the Silver Spring Monkeys: Innocent Researcher Victimized by Animal Rights Activists