PSY450 Ethicsc CH 4 - lecture notes on the ethical guidelines of an experiment PDF

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lecture notes on the ethical guidelines of an experiment...

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Establishing Ethical Guidelines The Belmont Report (1979) identifies three basic ethical principles for protecting human subjects ● Respect for persons ○ Individuals should consent to participation ■ Those who cannot consent need extra protection

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Beneficence ○ Do not harm ○ Minimize risks, maximize benefits Justice

○ Fairness ■ Ex. in selecting participants First code of ethics in psychology - 1953 ● For both clinical practice and research Most recents revision of code of ethics in 2002 ● 5 General Ethical Principles ○ Suggested guidelines, not standards or obligations ● 89 Specific Ethical Standards ○ Clustered into ten different categories ○ Specific rules to provide the basis for changes of unethical conduct

Five Principles of APA Ethics Code Beneficence and Non-Malfeasance: constantly weigh costs and benefits; achieve the greatest goof Fidelity and responsibility: constantly be aware of responsibility to society; always exemplify the highest standards of professional behavior Integrity: be scrupulously honest in all aspects of the profession Justice: always treat people fairly; reduce bias Respect for people right and dignity: safeguard the welfare and protect the rights of participants

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Categories of Ethical Standards Resolving ethical issues Cometence Human relations Privacy and confidentiality advertising/public statements Record

APA Code of Ethics: Major Issues No Harm ● Subjects must be protected from physical and psychological harm ○ Minimize risks ○ Any possible risks must be justified ○ Halt studies if necessary ● Clinical Equipoise - only providing the best possible treatment to participants ○ Problem: eliminates the possibility of control groups in clinical traits

Informed Consent ● Subjects must be given sufficient information about the study so they can make a rational decision to participants (or not) ○ Use easy to understand language (8th grade level) ● No consent needed in some circumstances ○ Some anonymous surveys, educational, analyzing archived data, observational research ● Elements ○ Study’s basic description ○ Approximately how long participation will take ○ Participants may quit at anytime ○ Confidentiality and anonymity ensured ○ Any potential risks ■ May be minimal or non ○ Contact information given (researcher, IRB) ○ Opportunity to obtain final results of the study ○ Signatures ● Special populations ■ Ex. children, prisoners, disabilities ○ Parents or legal guardian give consent ○ Assent also needed (willingness to participate) ○ Researchers must be even more vigilants about… ■ Undue stress ■ Potential risks vs. potential benefits ■ Coercion ● Deception ○ Avoid if possible, but acceptable if approved by IRB ■ Must be reasonable relative to the costs, benefits, and purpose of the study ■ Alternatives to deception must be considered and rejected

○ Cannot conceal possible physical pain or potential severe emotional distress ○ Reveal the purpose and importance of the deception during the debriefing ○ Two forms: ■ Passive Deception (omission): withholding information about the study ■ Active deception (commission): deliberately presenting false or misleading information ○ Confederate: ■ An individual who pretend to be naive to the study, but actually works for the researcher

Confidentiality ● Information obtained is kept secure and private ○ Personal info is collected in research ○ Ensured through anonymity ■ Information cannot be linked to a specific individual ● Strategies to promote confidentiality ○ De-identify data records ○ Use a coding system to link identifiable information to data records ○ Only report aggregated results

IRB: Institutional Review Board At least 5 members including: one member outside the community and one non scientist ● Determines whether the project meets ethical guidelines ○ Some research is exempt from review, gets an expedited review, or requires a full review ● Key factor: degree of risk to subjects ○ No risk (could be exempt) ○ Minimal risk (as in everyday life) (expedited) ○ At risk (greater risk than in everyday life) ( full ) ●

Ethical Issues and Nonhuman Subjects APA ethical guidelines for animal research: ● Must be conducted by qualified individuals ● Research must be justified ● Minimize harm and discomfort ○ Includes the general care and maintenance of animal subjects ■ Housing conditions, food, medical care for animals

IACC = The Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee ● At least 5 members including: a vet, a scientist experienced in animal research, a non scientist, someone who has no ties to the institution

Ethical Issues and Scientific Integrity Fraud (in science) ● An explicit effort to falsify or misrepresent data ○ Not the same as error (honest mistake) ● Varying degrees of falsifying data ○ Confabulating data, omitting data, photoshopping/altering data, suppressing entire study Why do researchers commit fraud? ● Individual weakness ○ To remain competitive ● Sloppiness ● The “publish or perish” climate in academia Safeguards to prevent fraud ● Studies that are designed to be replicated ● The peer review process ● Significant consequences of being found guilty of fraud (acts as deterrent)...