Basic Methodologies & EthicsEthics Psych 231: Research Methods in Psychology

Announcements Exam 1: One week from today

General research approaches Descriptive Describing the current state of the individual variables Observational, Survey, Case studies Correlational Investigating the relationship between two (or more) variables Experimental Investigating the cause-and-effect relationship between two (or more) variables

General research approaches Descriptive Describing the current state of the individual variables Observational, Survey, Case studies Correlational Investigating the relationship between two (or more) variables Experimental Investigating the cause-and-effect relationship between two (or more) variables

Correlational Methods Measure two (or more) variables for each individual to see if the variables are related Used for: Predictions Reliability and Validity Evaluating theories Problems: Can’t make casual claims

Causal claims We’d like to say: variable X --causes--> variable Y To be able to do this:  There must be co-variation between the two variables  The causal variable must come first  Directionality problem Happy people sleep well Or is it that sleeping well when you’re happy?  Need to eliminate plausible alternative explanations  Third variable problem Do Storks bring babies? A study reported a strong positive correlation between number of babies and stork sightings

Theory 1: Storks deliver babies

Theory 2: Underlying third variable

The experimental method Manipulating and controlling variables in laboratory experiments Must have a comparison At least two groups (often more) that get compared One groups serves as a control for the other group Variables Independent variable - the variable that is manipulated Dependent variable - the variable that is measured Control variables - held constant for all participants in the experiment

The experimental method Advantages Precise control possible Precise measurement possible Theory testing possible Can make causal claims Disadvantages Artificial situations may restrict generalization to “real world” Complex behaviors may be difficult to measure

Ethics Ethics – people should be treated as ends not means

Ethical Responsibilities in Research Two basic categories of ethical concerns: Need to consider the rights of our participants in our research Need to behave ethically as scientists and practitioners

Consider ethics at each step What measurement techniques will be used? How are participants selected? What methods may be used on the participant population? What design is appropriate? How are the data analyzed? How are the results reported? Ethical Responsibilities in Research

Using humans in research For the most part the researcher has the power You know what is going to be done to the participants Participants may feel like they have to do it

Basic courtesy Institutional review board approval APA’s code of ethics

Institutional Review Board IRB Criteria Minimize risk Benefits > Risks Equal opportunity sampling Informed consent Documentation of consent Data monitoring Privacy & Confidentiality

APA’s code of ethics Basic courtesy Institutional review board approval Informed consent

Informed consent Information to allow a person to decide if they want to participate Basic purpose of the study Participation is voluntary Risks involved Benefits involved Rights to refuse or terminate participation Assent - guardians if participants are not competent e.g., children, developmentally disabled people

Basic courtesy Institutional review board approval Informed consent Avoiding deception APA’s code of ethics

Using deception in research Passive deception Withholding information about the study Active deception Deliberately misleading participants

Using deception in research Avoid it when possible Alternatives to deception Role-playing Simulation studies When not possible to avoid Make sure that you are up front with all possible risks Potential results must be worth it Must debrief participants as soon as possible (either right after participation or as soon as project is over)

Basic courtesy Institutional review board approval Informed consent Avoiding deception Freedom from coercion Protection from harm Debriefing Confidentiality Costs vs. Benefits APA’s code of ethics

Costs/Benefits analysis Costs: all potential risks to the participants Physical harm Psychological harm Loss of confidentiality Benefits: the “good” outcomes Direct benefits to participants Benefits to knowledge base Benefits to world at large

Scientific Integrity Fraud prevention Replication – repeat a research study to validate results Peer Review – critical analysis of research by peers in the same area Plagiarism – taking credit for another’s work or ideas Avoided by citing the ideas or words of others

Ethical responsibility to science Dirty tricks (this will get you thrown out) Questionable tricks (these are a little fuzzier, but be wary) Neat tricks (accepted as okay, and sometimes necessary) Ethics in Science Quiz

Ethical responsibility to science Fabrication of results Little or no attempt to minimize demand biases Reformulating your theory as you go Falsifying credentials Plagiarism Little or no attempt to minimize confounds Deliberately hiding (significant) errors in published work Little or no attempt to minimize demand characteristics DT QT DT QT NT Dirty tricks Questionable tricks Neat tricks Ethics in Science Quiz

Ethical responsibility to science Throwing out data Reorganizing order of report of experiments Violations of underlying statistical assumptions Strategic graphing of the data Duplicate publications (presented as new) Selective reporting of the results Leaving out some bad experiments (not bad results) QT or DT QT NT DT Dirty tricks Questionable tricks Neat tricks depends reason for throwing out Ethics in Science Quiz

Using animals in research Why use animals in research? Same building blocks (e.g., nervous systems) Control often we can’t control the relevant past experiences of our human subjects, but we can with animals easier to control certain experimental factors with animals Irreversible and/or harmful effects

Using animals in research Why use animals in research (cont.)? Some unique, special characteristics Simpler systems May allow you to focus on particular variables (IV’s and DV’s), easier to do the experiment without a lot of complex interactions

Using animals in research But animals and humans are different Well, there are strong similarities evolution - common ancestry - as a result, things may work in similar ways But, we do need to be aware that there are differences, and always keep that critical eye, think of alternative explanations

Animal ethics: What rights do animals have? If animals are so similar to humans, then shouldn’t they have similar rights that humans have? Isn’t it unethical to do things to them that we wouldn’t do to ourselves? There is no simple answer, no clear right or wrong. Each individual must decide for themselves. However, animal research has certainly helped our (humans) lives