Research Research EthicsEthics

EthicsEthicsFrom the Greek word, “Ethos” meaning From the Greek word, “Ethos” meaning

charactercharacter Implies a judgment of characterImplies a judgment of characterMoral principlesMoral principlesEthical research is guided by larger concerns Ethical research is guided by larger concerns

about fairness, honesty, and public goodabout fairness, honesty, and public good

Why do we need to worry about Why do we need to worry about ethics?ethics?

Participants are very Participants are very cooperativecooperativeOrne (1962)Orne (1962)

Participants may cooperate to their own Participants may cooperate to their own detriment detriment

Example: Milgram obedience studiesExample: Milgram obedience studies

What were the ethical problems with Milgram’s What were the ethical problems with Milgram’s research?research?

What are the benefits to society as a result of What are the benefits to society as a result of what we know from that research?what we know from that research?

Research EthicsResearch EthicsNeed for a balance betweenNeed for a balance between

the right of the experimenter to study the the right of the experimenter to study the behaviorbehavior

andand

the right of the participants to be protected the right of the participants to be protected from abusefrom abuse

Nuremberg Code (1947)Nuremberg Code (1947) In response to the crimes against In response to the crimes against

humanity in the name of ‘science’ during humanity in the name of ‘science’ during WWIIWWII

Included Included informed consentinformed consent right to withdrawright to withdraw justification in scientific principlesjustification in scientific principlesbeneficiencebeneficience

Tuskegee syphilis studyTuskegee syphilis study U.S. Public Health ServiceU.S. Public Health Service Begun in 1932, spanned over 40 yearsBegun in 1932, spanned over 40 years Effects of untreated syphilis in 400 African Effects of untreated syphilis in 400 African

American menAmerican men Denied men available treatmentDenied men available treatment Only 74 left alive at the end of the studyOnly 74 left alive at the end of the study

Clinton apologized in 1997Clinton apologized in 1997

IRBIRB(Institutional Review Board)(Institutional Review Board)

1974: National Research Act1974: National Research ActAll institutions sponsoring research must All institutions sponsoring research must

investigate potential risks & benefitsinvestigate potential risks & benefitsProtects:Protects:

ParticipantsParticipants InstitutionInstitution

At NSCC, the Human Subjects Review At NSCC, the Human Subjects Review CommitteeCommittee

The Belmont ReportThe Belmont ReportCreated in 1979 by US Dept of Health, Created in 1979 by US Dept of Health,

Education, and Welfare (now Health and Education, and Welfare (now Health and Human Services)Human Services)

Guidelines for behavioral and medical Guidelines for behavioral and medical researchers regarding the protection of researchers regarding the protection of human subjectshuman subjectsBeneficenceBeneficenceRespect for persons (Autonomy)Respect for persons (Autonomy)JusticeJustice

APA Code of EthicsAPA Code of EthicsAPA adopted Ethical Principles of APA adopted Ethical Principles of

Psychologists and Code of Conduct in Psychologists and Code of Conduct in 19921992deals with both human and nonhuman deals with both human and nonhuman

participantsparticipants

Code was revised in June of 2003Code was revised in June of 2003

BeneficenceBeneficenceNeed for research to maximize benefits Need for research to maximize benefits

and minimize harm to participants.and minimize harm to participants.Risks includeRisks include

Physical harmPhysical harmStress/Psychological harmStress/Psychological harmLoss of privacy and confidentialityLoss of privacy and confidentiality

Assessing RisksAssessing RisksExempt, minimal risk, and greater than Exempt, minimal risk, and greater than

minimal riskminimal risk

Are any potential risks necessary?Are any potential risks necessary?

Issues with observation studies and Issues with observation studies and privacyprivacyhow do we decide if public observation is how do we decide if public observation is

unethical?unethical?

AutonomyAutonomy Informed ConsentInformed Consent

Withholding information and DeceptionWithholding information and Deception

DebriefingDebriefing

Informed consentInformed consent Participant is provided with enough Participant is provided with enough

information to make a decision about information to make a decision about participation. Includes:participation. Includes:BenefitsBenefitsRisksRisksProceduresProceduresParticipation is voluntary, and participants Participation is voluntary, and participants

have the ability to stop at any timehave the ability to stop at any time

Informed consent forms need to be Informed consent forms need to be clearly written and understandableclearly written and understandable

Withholding and DeceptionWithholding and Deceptionnot considered unethical to withhold not considered unethical to withhold

information that would not affect decision information that would not affect decision to participateto participate

active lying/misrepresenting purpose of active lying/misrepresenting purpose of the study more difficult to justifythe study more difficult to justify IRB requires strong reasoning behind IRB requires strong reasoning behind

necessity to deceive participantsnecessity to deceive participantsany deception must be clearly explained in any deception must be clearly explained in

debriefingdebriefing

DebriefingDebriefingExplain the purpose, procedure, and get Explain the purpose, procedure, and get

feedback from participantsfeedback from participants

May include May include desensitizingdesensitizing::Helping people cope with acquired negative Helping people cope with acquired negative

informationinformation

May include May include dehoaxingdehoaxing::Explaining that they were deceivedExplaining that they were deceived

JusticeJusticePrinciple of fairness in receiving the Principle of fairness in receiving the

benefits of research as well as paying the benefits of research as well as paying the costs.costs.Selection of subjects must be equitable or Selection of subjects must be equitable or

soundly justified by research purpose.soundly justified by research purpose.

Research with Animal SubjectsResearch with Animal SubjectsAnimal studies comprise a small but Animal studies comprise a small but

measurable fraction of psychological measurable fraction of psychological researchresearch

risk/benefit analysisrisk/benefit analysis

APA code of ethics requires animals APA code of ethics requires animals treated as humanely as possibletreated as humanely as possible

And this should go without saying…And this should go without saying…

FRAUD or Misrepresentation of research FRAUD or Misrepresentation of research methods or results is unethicalmethods or results is unethical

Plagiarism is unethicalPlagiarism is unethicalusing another’s words or IDEAS without using another’s words or IDEAS without

proper citationproper citation