Psychological Experimentation

Study #1 Dr. Sara Bellum is planning to do a research study to show the outcome of a serious back injury involving the spine and possible effect on the part of the brain affecting balance and coordination. To conduct her study, she will need volunteers to have a painful spinal tap, which would simulate the damage associated with severe back injuries. The spinal taps have a slight chance of causing severe pain that could last for several days. There is also a very slight risk of nerve damage that could cause some short-term paralysis. Subjects will be informed of the risks involved in the study and will be paid $1,200 for the spinal tap and the six-night stay that will be required to evaluate the outcome after this procedure. Should this study be approved? What concerns do you have?

Researchers propose to conduct an interview survey investigating 14-15 year-old boys’ and girls’ attitudes toward underage sex. The respondents will be interviewed in single-sex groups of four or five by a researcher who ask them about their sexual behavior and their attitudes towards their peers’ sexual behavior. An audio recording will be made of the interviews and then transcribed. The transcripts will then analyzed by a group of researchers to identify common themes in the things the respondents say about sexual behavior in their age group. Would you be willing to participate in this study? What concerns might you have? Study #2

Dr. Rip Van Winkle is requesting permission to do a sleep deprivation study involving young children. He has hypothesized that children between the ages of five and seven need uninterrupted sleep to do well with basic memory functions. He has proposed a study where children in this age category will be awakened each hour during one night in his laboratory, and then tested on basic memory abilities. These results will then be compared with those obtained after a normal night of sleep. He is offering parents a $250 incentive if they will agree to allow their children to participate in this study. The children will be given a gift certificate to a local toy store for their participation. Should this study be approved? What concerns do you have? Study # 3

Ethical guidelines are necessary to clarify the conditions under which psychological research is acceptable. (British Psychological Society, 1990. )

The fundamental ethical question in psychological research is `Does the end justify the means?` : a balance must be struck between the interests of the participants and the value of research. It is not simply a question of right, but of balance between the interests of the participant and the scientific value of the research.

Basically ethics is all about what you can and can’t do with participants.

CONSENT Participants should give informed consent. In studies involving children, informed parental consent should be obtained. Payment should not be used to induce risk taking behaviour. Special safeguarding procedures are necessary with subjects with limitations in communication or understanding or where unable to give real consent.

DECEPTION. Intentional deception over the purpose of the investigation should be avoided where possible. There must be strong medical or scientific justification for any deception.

CONFIDENTIALITY. The source of all information should remain confidential. If confidentiality cannot be guaranteed, the subject should be duly warned.

DEBRIEFING Participants should be fully debriefed. Participants experience should be discussed to assess any negative effects. Debriefing should be in the form of active intervention before leaving the research setting.

WITHDRAWAL FROM THE INVESTIGATION. Subjects should be aware of the right to withdraw at any time. This may be done retrospectively by refusing permission for their data to be used.

PROTECTION OF PARTICIPANTS. Participants should be protected from physical or mental harm. Participants should be asked of any factors which may create risk; i.e. medical conditions. Any risk should be no more than could be expected in the course of normal daily lifestyle. There should be the opportunity to contact the investigator at a later date if distress does occur.

OBSERVATIONAL RESEARCH. Observation should be only carried out in places where people could expect to be observed by strangers, unless specific permission is obtained beforehand. Care should be taken about the invasion of privacy.

Main ethical issues to consider. AN C D W P O AN’T O ITH ARTICIPANTS

C D W P ONSENT ECEPTION ONFIDENTIALITY EBRIEFING ITHDRAWAL ROTECTION

AN C D W P O AN’T O ITH ARTICIPANTS