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Chapter 15
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History of Research Ethics
Tuskegee syphilis study
Nuremberg Trials
Milgram Study
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Early Ethical Guidelines
Nuremberg Code (1947)
Declaration of Helsinki(1964)
The Tuskegee study led to:
Belmont Report (1979)
Federal regulations requiring Institutional
Review Boards (IRBs)
Early Canadian guidelines
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Ethics Guidelines for Behavioural
Research
In Canada:
Canadian Psychological
Association (CPA) Code
of Ethics for Psychologists Federal Regulations: The
Tri-Council Policy
Statement, 2ndedition
(TCPS2)
In the U.S. (Leary textbook):
American Psychological
Association (APA) Ethical
Principles of Psychologistsand Code of Conduct
Federal Regulations (the
Common Rule)
Additional guidelines govern clinical research,
animal research, genetic testing,
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Researchers Obligations
Advance scientific knowledge for the greatergood
Protecting the rights and welfare of
participants. Research ethics guidelines are utilitarian,
focusing on the consequences (costs and
benefits) of research.
Benefitsof scientific knowledge
Risksto participants
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TCPS2 vs. the Common
Rule The Leary textbook focuses on the context
of research ethics in the U.S.
The foundational principles underlying
these guidelines are very similar.Among other differences, the TCPS2 is
muchlonger and more detailed.
more restrictive with placebo controls. more restrictive in terms of acceptable harm in
research with children.
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Core Principles of Research
Ethics Respect for Persons
Participants deserve respect and consideration
Respect and promote autonomy
Protect those with diminished autonomy
Concern for Welfare Minimize risks
Benefits should outweigh risks
Justice
Benefits and burden of research should beequally distributed.
Special care with vulnerable populations
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Basic Ethical Guidelines
Potential Benefits
Basic knowledge
Improvement of research or
assessment techniques
Practical outcomes
Benefits for researchers
Benefits for research participants
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Basic Ethical Guidelines
Potential Costs
Time and effort of participants
Participants mental and physical welfare
Money
Deception; creation of a climate of
distrust
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Research Ethics Board (REB)
Institutional Review Board (IRB)
Members are from scientific and nonscientific
disciplines; the community.
Researchers submit a written proposal
describing the purpose, procedures, and
potential risks of the study.
REB must approve the proposal before the
study may be conducted.
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Informed Consent
Inform participants of the nature of their
participation in the study and obtain their
explicit agreement to participate.
Problems with obtaining informedconsent:
Compromising the validity of the study
Participants who are unable to give informedconsent
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Elements of an
Informed Consent Form
Description of why the study is being conducted
List of activities that participant will do
Description of possible risks
Statement informing participants that they mayrefuse to participate with no penalty
Confidentiality statement
Encouragement for participants to ask questions
Instructions on how to contact the researcher
Signature lines for the researcher and the
participant
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Invasion of Privacy
Participants have the right to decide when,
where, to whom, and to what extent their
responses will be revealed.
Research involving observation of people in
public places does not constitute an invasion
of privacy.
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Coercion to Participate
Coercion to participate occurs when participants
agree to participate in a research study because
of real or implied pressure from some individual
who has authority or influence over them.
When research participation is a course
requirement or given as extra credit, studentsmust be given the option of an alternate activity
for filling the requirement or earning credit.
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Physical and Mental Stress
The focus of a study may requireparticipants to experience pain, stress,failure, anxiety, or other negative emotions.
Minimal riskrisk that is no greater inprobability and severity than that ordinarilyencountered in daily life or during theperformance of routine physical orpsychological examinations of tests
Any use of more than minimal risk requiresstrong justification.
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Deception
Types of Deception
Presenting participants with a false purpose
of the study
Using an experimental confederate whoposes as another participant or a bystander
Providing false feedback to participants
Presenting two related studies as unrelated
Giving incorrect information regarding
stimulus materials
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Ethical Guidelines on Deception
Only use when necessary
Benefit must outweigh risks
Cannot deceive on factors that might
influence willingness to participate
Debrief participants
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Objections to Deception
Ethical objection: Lying and deceit are
immoral
Pragmatic objection: Participants may
enter studies suspicious of what theresearcher tells them and come to distrust
scientists and the research process
Researchers are not justified in deceiving
participants about aspects of the study that
might affect their willingness to participate.
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Confidentiality
Confidentialitya participants data
may be used only for purposes of the
research and may not be divulged to
others
The easiest way to maintain
confidentiality is to ensure thatparticipants responses are anonymous.
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Debriefing
Four Goals:
Clarify the nature of the study
Remove any stress or negative
consequence that the study may haveinduced
Obtain participants reactions to the study
Be sure that participants leave the study
feeling good about their participation
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Vulnerable Populations (1)
Children
Require parental consent
Children aged 12-17 require parental consent and
personal assent
Prisoners
Must be protected from being forced to participate
Small inducements to participate may lead them to
participate even when they would rather not.
Must ensure that prisoners do not believe that study
participation will affect their treatment in prison
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Vulnerable Populations (2)
People who have impaired decisionalcapacity If they are incapable of understanding the
research, a legal guardian must giveconsent.
People who are at risk for suicide
Pregnant women, fetuses, andnewborns
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Ethical Principles in
Research with Animals
Research involving non-human animals must be
monitored by a person who is experienced in the
care and use of laboratory animals, and a
veterinarian must be available for consultation.Animals must be housed under healthy and
humane conditions.
Experimental procedures must minimize
discomfort.