IRB – Institutional Review BoardIRB – Institutional Review Board

PurposePurpose Protect the Right of Human Subjects participating in Protect the Right of Human Subjects participating in

researchresearch

Protect VULNERABLE populations Protect VULNERABLE populations This includes children, mentally ill, persons with disabilities, This includes children, mentally ill, persons with disabilities,

institutionalized individuals etc.institutionalized individuals etc.

Primary motivations for the formation of the IRBPrimary motivations for the formation of the IRB The HolocaustThe Holocaust

Nazis did horrible experiments in the name of researchNazis did horrible experiments in the name of research Tuskegee ExperimentTuskegee Experiment

American researchers refused to provide treatment to thoseAmerican researchers refused to provide treatment to those suffering from syphilis in the name of researchsuffering from syphilis in the name of research

The Nazi Experiments were mostly medical experiments, but also impacted the emotional and social well-being of prisonners.

IRB – Institutional Review IRB – Institutional Review BoardBoard Requirements Established by Board at USU. Requirements Established by Board at USU.

Main Purpose is to Protect the Rights of Human Subjects. Main Purpose is to Protect the Rights of Human Subjects. Researchers are Required toResearchers are Required to

– Make Certain Possible Benefits Exceed Possible Harm Make Certain Possible Benefits Exceed Possible Harm ForFor

The Participants in the ProgramThe Participants in the Program

– Minimize Harm for ParticipantsMinimize Harm for Participants

– Inform Potential Participants of all Possible HarmInform Potential Participants of all Possible Harm

– Never Coerce Anyone into Participating. Participation inNever Coerce Anyone into Participating. Participation in Research Must be Voluntary.Research Must be Voluntary.

IRB – Institutional Review IRB – Institutional Review BoardBoard Requirements Established by BoardRequirements Established by Board

– The IRB Does a Cost/Benefits Analysis of The IRB Does a Cost/Benefits Analysis of Harm in the Following Areas:Harm in the Following Areas:

Social HarmSocial Harm

Physical HarmPhysical Harm

Psychological HarmPsychological Harm

IRB – Institutional Review IRB – Institutional Review BoardBoard Benefits for the ResearcherBenefits for the Researcher

– Why should you work with the IRB?Why should you work with the IRB?

Ethical reasons – ensure safety of your Ethical reasons – ensure safety of your participantsparticipants

Legal reasons – ensure that participants or Legal reasons – ensure that participants or others don’t sue you.others don’t sue you.

Practical reasons – It’s required!Practical reasons – It’s required!

IRB – Institutional Review IRB – Institutional Review BoardBoard How do you work with the IRB?How do you work with the IRB?

– Go to their USU website, and follow the Go to their USU website, and follow the directions.directions.

– Contact the IRB office at Utah State. It Contact the IRB office at Utah State. It is under the direction of True Fox. is under the direction of True Fox. (name?)(name?)

Is it necessary?Is it necessary? There are examples of “good” research done by “good” There are examples of “good” research done by “good”

researchers where participants did experience great harm. researchers where participants did experience great harm. These include:These include:

– Physical HarmPhysical Harm Tuskegee ExperimentTuskegee Experiment

– Psychological Harm (Emotional Trauma)Psychological Harm (Emotional Trauma) Milgram ExperimentMilgram Experiment Zimbardo’s ExperimentZimbardo’s Experiment

– Social Harm (Reputation/Good Name)Social Harm (Reputation/Good Name) Study of Gays/Homosexuals Study of Gays/Homosexuals

Examples – Two Famous ExperimentsExamples – Two Famous Experiments

Both Milgram and Zimbardo were concerned about what happened in Both Milgram and Zimbardo were concerned about what happened in Germany during the Holocaust. They wanted to know if such harm Germany during the Holocaust. They wanted to know if such harm could occur here in the US. Ironically, they harmed participants in could occur here in the US. Ironically, they harmed participants in their journey to answer this questions.their journey to answer this questions.

Milgram did research on Obedience to Authority. He wanted to know Milgram did research on Obedience to Authority. He wanted to know if Americans would blindly follow authority figures as some if Americans would blindly follow authority figures as some German citizens followed their leaders.German citizens followed their leaders.

Zimbardo did research on Social Roles and their impact on human Zimbardo did research on Social Roles and their impact on human interactions. He wanted to know if those who were given great interactions. He wanted to know if those who were given great power over others (i.e., guards) would abuse that power.power over others (i.e., guards) would abuse that power.

Could the atrocities that occurred in Germany

ever happen in the US?

Examples of Famous Examples of Famous ExperimentsExperiments

Zimbardo’s ExperimentZimbardo’s Experiment– He conducted a Field Experiment/TrialsHe conducted a Field Experiment/Trials

Milgram’s ExperimentMilgram’s Experiment– He conducted a single shot or one shot experimentHe conducted a single shot or one shot experiment

Intervention – Post Test Intervention – Post Test X-----YX-----Y

Ash’s ExperimentAsh’s Experiment– Was a third study that was able to answer similar Was a third study that was able to answer similar

questions without causing harm. questions without causing harm. – He conducted a classical experimentHe conducted a classical experiment

Pre-test -----Intervention-----Post-testPre-test -----Intervention-----Post-test Y----X-----YY----X-----Y

Zimbardo’s Quasi Field Zimbardo’s Quasi Field ExperimentExperiment

Independent VariableIndependent Variable– Social Role - Position of PowerSocial Role - Position of Power

Dependent VariableDependent Variable– Behavior of ParticipantsBehavior of Participants

How does a person’s social role influence How does a person’s social role influence their behavior toward others??their behavior toward others??

ZimbardoZimbardoPrisoners Dilemma Prisoners Dilemma

He set up a simulated prison situationHe set up a simulated prison situation He recruited 75 college students and selected the 21 He recruited 75 college students and selected the 21

who were most “emotionally stable”who were most “emotionally stable” He randomly divided them into two groups (guard and He randomly divided them into two groups (guard and

prisonners)prisonners) He placed them in a facility that looked very much like a He placed them in a facility that looked very much like a

prisonprison He instructed them to act as “guards” and “prisonners”He instructed them to act as “guards” and “prisonners” He observed their behaviorHe observed their behavior

ZimbardoZimbardoPrisoners Dilemma Prisoners Dilemma

Results of this field experimentResults of this field experiment

Behavior of guardsBehavior of guards Initially prisoners rebelled when mistreatedInitially prisoners rebelled when mistreatedPrisoners became demoralizedPrisoners became demoralizedPrisoners suffered emotional anguish for some time afterwardPrisoners suffered emotional anguish for some time afterward

Behavior of guardsBehavior of guards1/3 Guards demanded degrading behavior from prisonners (i.e., 1/3 Guards demanded degrading behavior from prisonners (i.e.,

cleaning toiletscleaning toilets1/3 Guards were fair but tough1/3 Guards were fair but tough1/3 Guards were kind – but didn’t help with other guards1/3 Guards were kind – but didn’t help with other guardsThe treatment became so abusive that the experiment was The treatment became so abusive that the experiment was

discontinued after only 6 days.discontinued after only 6 days.Some guards felt considerable guilt for some time afterwardSome guards felt considerable guilt for some time afterward

Quasi Field ExperimentQuasi Field ExperimentMilgram’s ExperimentMilgram’s Experiment

Independent VariableIndependent Variable– Concept – Authority Figure’s PowerConcept – Authority Figure’s Power– Indicator – Presence of Authority FigureIndicator – Presence of Authority Figure

Varied proximity to authority figureVaried proximity to authority figure

Dependent VariableDependent Variable– Concept – Conformity to AuthorityConcept – Conformity to Authority– Indicator – Whether or not they would follow authority Indicator – Whether or not they would follow authority

figure’s directions to shock others when they gave the figure’s directions to shock others when they gave the “wrong answer” to a “test”. “wrong answer” to a “test”.

In reality the subjects were not shocking anyone. They were just led to believe there was someone behind a curtain who was receiving a shock. They did hear a voice, and the voice even pleaded with them to stop.

Subjects experiences emotional trauma for some time afterwards. They felt like “murderers”, and felt great guilt as a result of their actions.

Asch’s ExperimentAsch’s Experiment

Asch also wanted to know if Americans Asch also wanted to know if Americans would fall to group pressure and go would fall to group pressure and go against what they knew to be true.against what they knew to be true.

He used a classical experimental design.He used a classical experimental design.

He recruited college students and He recruited college students and divided them into experimental groups divided them into experimental groups and control groups.and control groups.

They were shown three lines (A,B,C) and then shown line S. Their job was to determine which line was the same length as line S (A,B, or C). The task was simple and the answer was obvious.

Members of the experimental group were placed into groups where 7 to 8 confederates publicly voiced their answer prior to the subject. They all gave the wrong answer.

Asch’s ExperimentAsch’s Experiment Results Results

– Most of the subjects did fall to group pressure.Most of the subjects did fall to group pressure.

Asch’s was able to do his research Asch’s was able to do his research successfully without causing harm to successfully without causing harm to subjects. subjects.

The goal of the IRB is to help you find The goal of the IRB is to help you find ways to complete your research without ways to complete your research without harming your participants.harming your participants.

Contact InformationContact Information

Dr. Carol AlbrechtDr. Carol Albrecht Assessment SpecialistAssessment Specialist Utah State ExtensionUtah State Extension 979-777-2421979-777-2421 Carol.albrecht@usu.eduCarol.albrecht@usu.edu