Psy 231—Stats/Methods I
 

G&F Chapter 4—Ethical Issues

I. Scientific Integrity

 A. Types of Fraud and Deceit

1. Unethical treatment of human or animal subjects

2. Deceiving research participants

(Responsibility to research participants)

3. Data fabrication    November article in New York Times

4. Plagiarism

5. Selective reporting of research findings

6. Failure to acknowledge contributions

7. Misuse of research funds

(Responsibility to Science)

II. Human Participants in Research

    A. Nuremberg Code

1. Participation of subjects must be totally voluntary and the subject should have the capacity to give consent to participate. Further, the subject should be fully informed of the purposes, nature, and duration of the experiment.

2. The research should yield results that are useful to society and that cannot be obtained in any other way.

3. The research should have a sound footing in animal research and be based on the natural history of the problem under study,

4. Steps should be taken in the research to avoid unnecessary physical or psychological harm to subjects.

5. Research should not be conducted if there is reason to believe that death or disability will occur to the subjects.

6. The risk involved in the research should be proportional to the benefits to be obtained from the results.

7. Proper plans should be made and facilities provided to protect the subject against harm.

8. Research should be conducted by highly qualified scientists only.

9. The subject should have the freedom to withdraw from the experiment at any time if he (or she) has reached the conclusion that continuing in the experiment is not possible.

10. The researcher must be prepared to discontinue the experiment if it becomes evident to the researcher that continuing the research will be harmful to the subjects.

    B. (In)famous Behavioral Research

Milgram obedience study (1963)

III. APA Ethical Guidelines  

A.  6 Major Issues for Human Participants

1. Informed Consent (3 components are Information, Understanding, & Voluntary Participation)

sample consent form

2. Cause no harm (use minimal risk whenever possible)

3. Remove any harmful consequences resulting from experiment (Debriefing & provide follow-up services if necessary) sample debriefing form

4. Use deception only when no other alternative exists or benefit far exceeds risk

5. Maintain confidentiality regarding participant info.