Studies and Ethics

Ethics????

A researcher teaches a baby with no inherent fear of rats, to fear and be distressed by rats by consistently creating a scary noise every time a rat is brought in front of the child. 1910’s

Is it ethical? Men using a public restroom are observed by a researcher hidden in a toilet stall who records the time they take to urinate. 1976

Researchers covertly film people who strip parts from abandoned cars

Participants waiting for an experiment are videotaped without their prior knowledge or consent. However they are given the chance to erase their tapes if they don’t want them used for research. 1982

Researchers staged a shoplifting episode in a drug store and shoppers reactions are observed 1973

Researchers hide under dormitory beds and eavesdrop on college students’ conversations 1938

Researchers embarrass participants by asking them to publically sing “Gangnam Style”

Researchers approach members of the opposite sex on a college campus and ask them to have sex. 2004

APA Guidelines for Ethical research with human participants Subjects must have the right to decline participation in an experiment or withdraw their participation at any time. Openness and honesty are essential to experimentation. If deception is used participants must be debriefed after to remove any misconceptions caused by deception. Participants should be provided with the results and interpretations of the research. Information obtained about a subject during the course of a study must remain confidential. The experimenter must assess potential physical or mental risks to the participants, inform them of the risks and correct or remove any undesirable consequences of participation. (Do no harm).

Animal experimentation???

Ethics in research with animals APA guidelines Acquire, care for, use and dispose of animals in compliance with current regulations, and with professional standards. Ensure that all individuals under their supervision who are using animals have received instruction in research methods and in the care, maintenance and handling of the species being used, to the extent appropriate to their role. Make reasonable efforts to minimize the discomfort, infection, illness and pain of animal subjects. Use a procedure subjecting animals to pain, stress or privation only when an alternative procedure is unavailable and the goal is justified by its prospective scientific, educational or applied value. Perform surgical procedures under appropriate anesthesia and follow techniques to avoid infection and minimize pain during and after surgery. Proceed rapidly when it is appropriate that an animal's life be terminated, with an effort to minimize pain and in accordance with accepted procedures. Moreover, psychologists trained in appropriate research methods and experienced in the care of laboratory animals must supervise all procedures involving these animals and are "responsible for ensuring appropriate consideration of their comfort, health and humane treatment," says the code.

As a society, we tend to value animals according to their perceived similarity to us. Arguments for and against?

Arguments for animal testing Arguments against animal testing

Arguments for animal testing Arguments against animal testing Animal testing can save human lives Leads to treatment for human diseases Insulin for diabetes Vaccines to prevent polio and rabies Transplants to replace defective organs Rats and monkeys share processes similar to humans could  improvements in human learning We kill animals for food, on a fraction of that number is used for research. Many animals end up in kill shelters Not all research is inhumane Other animals do not evaluate the ethics of killing / maiming other animals Other animals benefit from animal research Since we share similarities with other animals we should respect them All life is sacred We should protect those without a voice (might does not make “right”) Just as it is not valid to exploit another on the basis on race, gender or intelligence it is not right to exploit another on the basis of their species. Capacity to suffer should be the only relevant criterion to research – most animals share an ability to suffer

Laboratory Study – an experiment that happens in the lab Field Study – an experiment or study that happens in “the real world” Survey Method – questioning a carefully selected group to discover patterns of behavior or feelings (need representative samples) Naturalistic Observation – researchers secretly observe subjects in their natural habitat to gain information on behavior patterns

Interview – to gain in depth personal information Interview – to gain in depth personal information. Problem, interviewee may not reveal unflattering info about themselves Case Study Method – develops information about a person’s long term background usually for developing treatment Psychological test – questionaries' allow for objective data to be collected. Are limited in scope when testing complex human beings. Longitudinal Method – studies a group over a longer period of their lives Cross-sectional Method – representative samples taken from several groups to compare the results of studies / tests across groups

Correlation vs. Causation Correlation - A mutual relationship or connection between two or more things. When studies reveal that one behavioral characteristics accompanies another those characteristics are said to correlate. Example: Polio and Ice cream consumption Just because a correlation exists that doesn’t mean that one element caused the other. They may both have an independent cause.

Alcohol use is associated with violence (one interpretation: drinking leads to aggression) Educated people live longer on average than less educated people (one interpretation – education enhances and lengthens life) Students involved in after school sports achieve higher grades in general than those who don’t (one interpretation, sports and physical activity aid in learning and achievement)

Illusory Correlation The perception of a relationship where none exists May be due to ignoring or failing to notice data that contradicts our belief in a relationship Women are cranky during pms Arthritis is worse during weather changes If a woman is carrying high (in pregnancy) it’s a girl, if low it’s a boy