Chapter 3 Ethics in Research

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

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

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]

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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)

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