1. Research Ethics

2. Ethics From the Greek word, “Ethos” meaning character From the Greek word, “Ethos” meaning character Implies a judgment of character Implies a judgment of character Moral principles Moral principles Ethical research is guided by larger concerns about fairness, honesty, and public good Ethical research is guided by larger concerns about fairness, honesty, and public good

3. Why do we need to worry about ethics? Participants are very cooperative Participants are very cooperative Orne (1962) Orne (1962) Participants may cooperate to their own detriment Participants may cooperate to their own detriment

4. Example: Milgram obedience studies What were the ethical problems with Milgram’s research? What were the ethical problems with Milgram’s research? What are the benefits to society as a result of what we know from that research? What are the benefits to society as a result of what we know from that research?

5. Research Ethics Need for a balance between Need for a balance between the right of the experimenter to study the behavior the right of the experimenter to study the behaviorand the right of the participants to be protected from abuse the right of the participants to be protected from abuse

6. Nuremberg Code (1947) In response to the crimes against humanity in the name of ‘science’ during WWII In response to the crimes against humanity in the name of ‘science’ during WWII Included Included informed consent informed consent right to withdraw right to withdraw justification in scientific principles justification in scientific principles beneficience beneficience

7. Tuskegee syphilis study U.S. Public Health Service U.S. Public Health Service Begun in 1932, spanned over 40 years Begun in 1932, spanned over 40 years Effects of untreated syphilis in 400 African American men Effects of untreated syphilis in 400 African American men Denied men available treatment Denied men available treatment Only 74 left alive at the end of the study Only 74 left alive at the end of the study Clinton apologized in 1997 Clinton apologized in 1997

9. IRB (Institutional Review Board) 1974: National Research Act 1974: National Research Act All institutions sponsoring research must investigate potential risks & benefits All institutions sponsoring research must investigate potential risks & benefits Protects: Protects: Participants Participants Institution Institution At NSCC, the Human Subjects Review Committee At NSCC, the Human Subjects Review Committee

11. The Belmont Report Created in 1979 by US Dept of Health, Education, and Welfare (now Health and Human Services) Created in 1979 by US Dept of Health, Education, and Welfare (now Health and Human Services) Guidelines for behavioral and medical researchers regarding the protection of human subjects Guidelines for behavioral and medical researchers regarding the protection of human subjects Beneficence Beneficence Respect for persons (Autonomy) Respect for persons (Autonomy) Justice Justice

12. APA Code of Ethics APA adopted Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct in 1992 APA adopted Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct in 1992 deals with both human and nonhuman participants deals with both human and nonhuman participants Code was revised in June of 2003 Code was revised in June of 2003

13. Beneficence Need for research to maximize benefits and minimize harm to participants. Need for research to maximize benefits and minimize harm to participants. Risks include Risks include Physical harm Physical harm Stress/Psychological harm Stress/Psychological harm Loss of privacy and confidentiality Loss of privacy and confidentiality

14. Assessing Risks Exempt, minimal risk, and greater than minimal risk Exempt, minimal risk, and greater than minimal risk Are any potential risks necessary? Are any potential risks necessary? Issues with observation studies and privacy Issues with observation studies and privacy how do we decide if public observation is unethical? how do we decide if public observation is unethical?

15. Autonomy Informed Consent Informed Consent Withholding information and Deception Withholding information and Deception Debriefing Debriefing

16. Informed consent Participant is provided with enough information to make a decision about participation. Includes: Participant is provided with enough information to make a decision about participation. Includes: Benefits Benefits Risks Risks Procedures Procedures Participation is voluntary, and participants have the ability to stop at any time Participation is voluntary, and participants have the ability to stop at any time Informed consent forms need to be clearly written and understandable Informed consent forms need to be clearly written and understandable

17. Withholding and Deception not considered unethical to withhold information that would not affect decision to participate not considered unethical to withhold information that would not affect decision to participate active lying/misrepresenting purpose of the study more difficult to justify active lying/misrepresenting purpose of the study more difficult to justify IRB requires strong reasoning behind necessity to deceive participants IRB requires strong reasoning behind necessity to deceive participants any deception must be clearly explained in debriefing any deception must be clearly explained in debriefing

18. Debriefing Explain the purpose, procedure, and get feedback from participants Explain the purpose, procedure, and get feedback from participants May include desensitizing: May include desensitizing: Helping people cope with acquired negative information Helping people cope with acquired negative information May include dehoaxing: May include dehoaxing: Explaining that they were deceived Explaining that they were deceived

19. Justice Principle of fairness in receiving the benefits of research as well as paying the costs. Principle of fairness in receiving the benefits of research as well as paying the costs. Selection of subjects must be equitable or soundly justified by research purpose. Selection of subjects must be equitable or soundly justified by research purpose.

21. Research with Animal Subjects Animal studies comprise a small but measurable fraction of psychological research Animal studies comprise a small but measurable fraction of psychological research risk/benefit analysis risk/benefit analysis APA code of ethics requires animals treated as humanely as possible APA code of ethics requires animals treated as humanely as possible

23. And this should go without saying… FRAUD or Misrepresentation of research methods or results is unethical FRAUD or Misrepresentation of research methods or results is unethical Plagiarism is unethical Plagiarism is unethical using another’s words or IDEAS without proper citation using another’s words or IDEAS without proper citation