Ethics in Research

Participating in Research How would you have felt if you participated in Dr. Venkman’s study? Should there be guidelines for the appropriate behavior of psychologists?

Ethical Guidelines Ethics – people should be treated as ends not means Designed to protect the rights of human and animals APA ethics code www.apa.org/ethics/code2002.html “…it has as its goals the welfare and protection of the individuals and groups with whom the psychologists work…”

Ethics Used during all steps of research Measurement Participant selection Research strategies & designs Treatment of Participants Data analysis Reporting results

Ethical Responsibilities Researcher responsibilities to science to society to students of psychology participants Examples of unethical behaviors fabrication of results harming participants

Ethical Issues No harm Psychological or physical If P is harmed, benefit > cost e.g., an effective treatment with side effects

Ethical Issues Informed Consent Information about study Risks and benefits Voluntary No coercion Withdraw at any time

Ethical Issues Consent Form Consent – competent Ps Ps sign to verify understanding Consent – competent Ps Assent – incompetent Ps guardians e.g., developmentally disabled people

Ethical Issues Deception Two Types Ps do not know true purpose of research Two Types Passive – information is left out e.g., no knowledge of memory test

Ethical Issues Active – information is inaccurate e.g., cover story Confederate - E role-plays. e.g., another P, a random bystander

Ethical Issues Debriefing Purpose of study is explained to Ps upon completion Reduces harmful effects of deception

Thought Questions When is it acceptable to use deception in research? When is it unethical to use deception in research? Does debriefing reduce the harmful effects of deception?

Ethical Issues Confidentiality Anonymity Ps information will be kept secret e.g., memory, opinions, sexual orientation, etc. Anonymity Ps name is not associated with data e.g., Ps are assigned a number

Protection of Human Rights - IRB Institutional Review Board (IRB) Committee who approves research proposals IRB Forms http://www.psychology.ilstu.edu/research/researchers.html

Protection of Human Rights - IRB IRB Criteria Minimize risk Benefits > Risks Equal opportunity sampling Informed consent Documentation of consent Data monitoring Privacy & Confidentiality

Animal Rights Why do we use animals? To understand animals To understand humans To conduct research that cannot be conducted on humans

Animal Rights Animals used in research have rights Food and shelter Benefits > Costs IACUC – Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee Protects the rights of animals Approves research proposals involving animals Forms http://www.psychology.ilstu.edu/research/researchers.html

Scientific Integrity Two issues: Fraud & Plagiarism Fraud – a conscious misrepresentation of data by a researcher Why? Used to attain publications

Scientific Integrity Fraud prevention Replication – repeat a research study to validate results Peer Review – critical analysis of research by peers in the same area

Scientific Integrity Plagiarism – taking credit for another’s work or ideas Avoided by citing the ideas or words of others

Application How can you use these ethical guidelines in this class? Why does understanding how to behave ethically benefit your future careers? How could Dr. Venkman have altered his behavior to meet ethical guidelines?