Psychology 291 – Lab 4 Ethics September 29 - October 2, 2013

Ethics Ethics are a code of proper action which take into account: –Respect for human dignity –Respect for free and informed consent –Respect for vulnerable persons (& animals) –Respect for privacy and confidentiality –Respect for justice and inclusiveness –Balancing harm and benefits

Animal and Human Research Both types of research require clearance from their respective boards –Animal research requires that protocols be cleared through the Animal Care Committee (ACC) and that all investigators complete the Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC) modules to be able to work with animals –Human Research requires studies/apparatus to be cleared through the Research Ethics Committee (REC) and Research Ethics Board (REB)

Levels of Clearance for Animal Research The CCAC outlines its primary ethical concerns according to the three R’s of research: ACC is the “local enforcer” of CCAC requirements In order to be cleared to work with animals, an investigator must pass ( > 70%) 12 CCAC modules and their protocols must be cleared by the ACC

CCAC modules 1.Guidelines, Legislation & Regulations 2.Ethics in Animal Experimentation 3.The Three R’s of Humane Animal Experimentation 4.Occupational Health & Safety 5.Research Issues 6.Basic Animal Care 7.Environmental Enrichment 8.Basic Diseases and the Animal Facility 9.Pain, Distress & Endpoints 10.Analgesia 11.Anesthesia 12.Euthanasia of Experimental Animals

Proposing Animal Research Animal Care Committee (ACC) consists of: –An ACC coordinator –The ACF manager –Two community members –Two faculty members that use animals –A faculty member that is not an animal user –A student –A veterinarian

Proposing Human Research The REC committee consist of: –Three faculty members from our department The REB committee consists of: –Faculty members from different departments on campus who conduct human research

All ethics boards must have a clear understanding of: The purpose/merit of the research –Benefits of the research –The hypothesis(es) Research design Participants/Subjects –How that population will be accessed –Protection of Participant rights Risks and how to minimize them –Validity of the research according to the 3 R’s of CCAC –Distress to animals, Health risks for Animal Care Facilities (ACF) personnel and other animals –Use of deception Necessary resources –Use of controlled substances –Space requirements

Questions to help evaluate research proposals 1.Does the study have scientific merit? 2.How will society or the Ss/Ps of the study benefit? 3.Does the study place Ss/Ps at physical or psychological risk? –What are the sources of risk? Is there a less risky procedure? 4.Do Ss/Ps have enough info to give informed consent? 5.Does the study use deception? Is it necessary? 6.Can Ss/Ps refuse or withdraw from the study? –Are any elements of the study coercive? 7.Is confidentiality/anonymity assured? 8.Are there any other concerns?

In a simulation training study, undergraduate participants will be asked to help another participant learn a list of words. In reality, though, the participant learning the words will be a confederate who purposely gets some of the words wrong. The actual participants will be told to scold the learner whenever the learner makes a mistake. Anytime the participants hesitate in scolding the learner, the experimenter will tell them that they must scold the learner or they will not receive credit for the experiment. The number of times the participants scold the learners will be recorded. Each participant will sign a consent form before the experiment begins.