Research Ethics ch 5 (research methods flashcards)

What is research ethics?

The principles, rules, and standards used to determine whether research involving human subjects is appropriate and protects participants from harm and unfair treatment.

Why was research ethics historically a problem?

Researchers or institutions conducting research were responsible for deciding whether their own research was ethical, creating opportunities for bias and self-interest.

Why could researchers overlook ethical issues under the old unregulated system?

Because researchers had the ability to judge their own research, personal bias or self-interest could lead them to overlook ethical problems.

What is one major lesson from the history of research ethics?

Research cannot be effectively self-regulated by the researchers conducting it.

Why were rules and regulations for research ethics created?

To guide future research and prevent additional unethical studies.

What does it mean that many historical studies are considered unethical by today's standards?

Research practices that were once allowed or conducted without regulation may violate modern ethical principles and protections for human subjects.

What are some historically unethical examples of medical research?

Nazi experiments and the Tuskegee syphilis study.

What are some famous examples of unethical psychological research?

Milgram's obedience study and the Stanford prison experiment.

Why are the Nazi experiments considered part of the history of research ethics?

They are an example of serious unethical medical research that contributed to the recognition of the need for stronger protections for human research subjects.

What was the Tuskegee syphilis study?

It was a historically unethical medical research study and is presented in the lecture as an example of unethical research in the U.S.

What was the Neubauer Twin Study?

It was a study in which identical twins were separated into different homes through an adoption agency and were later secretly studied.

Who was Viola Bernard?

A psychologist who persuaded an adoption agency to send identical twins to different homes in the 1970s.

What happened to the identical twins in the Neubauer Twin Study?

Identical twins, and in some cases sets of triplets, were sent to different homes.

What did the families know about the twins' separation?

The families were not aware that the children had been separated from an identical twin or set of triplets.

Who was Peter Neubauer?

A psychiatrist who secretly studied the separated twins through home visits.

How was the Neubauer Twin Study conducted secretly?

Neubauer conducted home visits to study the separated twins without the families being aware of the separation from their identical twin or triplet siblings.

Why did Neubauer have the study's records sealed?

He realized the study would be controversial and had Yale University seal the records until 2066.

What does the Neubauer Twin Study demonstrate about research ethics?

It demonstrates how researchers historically conducted studies involving human subjects without the protections and informed awareness expected under modern research ethics.

Why can researchers not effectively self-regulate research ethics?

Researchers may have bias or self-interest that can cause them to overlook ethical issues in their own research.

What was created to regulate research ethics?

Rules and regulations were created to guide research and prevent additional unethical studies.

What is the Belmont Report?

A report outlining basic ethical principles for research involving human subjects.

Why was the Belmont Report created?

In 1976, the U.S. Congress commissioned a group to discuss the basic ethical principles for research involving human subjects.

What are the three main principles of the Belmont Report?

Respect for persons, beneficence, and justice.

What does respect for persons mean in research ethics?

Researchers should protect subjects' rights, including privacy, confidentiality, and the right to give consent.

What does beneficence mean in research ethics?

Researchers should protect the well-being of subjects from harm and conduct studies that benefit society.

What does justice mean in research ethics?

Researchers should treat all people fairly, including ensuring that the risks of research are not unfairly concentrated on one segment of the population.

What are the APA Ethical Principles?

The Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct published by the American Psychological Association.

When did the APA publish its Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct?

In 1992.

What does the APA Ethical Principles document cover?

It outlines five ethical principles and ten ethical standards for common roles of psychologists, including researchers, educators, and practitioners.

What are the five APA ethical principles discussed in the lecture?

Beneficence and nonmaleficence, fidelity and responsibility, integrity, justice, and respect.

What is beneficence and nonmaleficence?

The principle that researchers should ensure the well-being of subjects by protecting them from harm and conducting studies that benefit society.

What kinds of well-being are included under beneficence and nonmaleficence?

Both physical and mental health.

What is a risk-benefit analysis?

An evaluation of the risks and potential benefits of a study to determine whether the potential benefits justify the risks.

Is any research risk automatically unethical?

No. Some risk can be acceptable if the benefits of the research outweigh the cost or risk.

What is the key idea behind risk-benefit analysis?

The potential benefits of the research must be weighed against the risks to participants.

What is justice in research ethics?

The principle that researchers should treat all people fairly.

What does justice require when selecting research participants?

Researchers should sample subjects from the same population that will benefit from the research.

Why is it unethical to collect data from only a specific segment of the population of interest?

Because it can unfairly concentrate all of the risks of the research on that particular group.

How does unfair sampling violate justice?

It places the burdens and risks of research on one group while the potential benefits may go to a broader population.

What is respect in research ethics?

The principle that researchers should protect subjects' rights, including privacy, confidentiality, and consent.

What rights are specifically protected under respect?

The right to privacy, the right to confidentiality, and the right to give consent.

Can researchers mislead subjects about the risks of a study?

Researchers may not mislead subjects about a study's risks.

Can researchers coerce subjects to participate?

No. Researchers should not coerce subjects to participate.

What does diminished autonomy mean?

A reduced ability or capacity to make fully independent decisions about participation in research.

Who may require special protections because of diminished autonomy?

Examples given in the lecture include children, mentally disabled individuals, and prisoners.

Why do people with diminished autonomy require special protections?

Because researchers should take additional steps to protect participants whose ability to make fully independent decisions may be limited.

What is fidelity and responsibility?

The principle that researchers should accept responsibility for their professional behavior and establish relationships of trust.

Why is establishing trust important in research?

Maintaining trust and public confidence is essential for researchers to continue their work.

Who are examples of groups whose trust researchers need to maintain?

Participants and funding sources are examples given in the lecture.

What can happen if researchers lose public confidence?

It can undermine the ability to continue conducting research and maintaining support for research.

What is integrity in research ethics?

The principle that researchers should strive to be accurate, truthful, and honest.

What types of misconduct does integrity help prevent?

Fabrication, falsification, and plagiarism.

Why is honesty important in research?

Researchers need to accurately and truthfully report their work rather than create, alter, or improperly use information.

What is fabrication?

Creating or making up information or data rather than actually obtaining it.

What is falsification?

Manipulating or altering research information or data so that it does not accurately represent what occurred.

What is plagiarism?

Using another person's work or ideas without appropriately giving credit.

What are the three Belmont Report principles?

Respect for persons, beneficence, and justice.

What are the five APA ethical principles?

Beneficence and nonmaleficence, fidelity and responsibility, integrity, justice, and respect.

What is a major difference between the Belmont and APA frameworks presented in the lecture?

The Belmont Report presents three broad principles for research involving human subjects, while the APA document presents five ethical principles and ten ethical standards for psychologists.

A researcher decides whether their own study is ethical without outside rules or oversight. What historical problem does this represent?

Self-regulation of research, which can allow bias or self-interest to cause researchers to overlook ethical issues.

A researcher conducts a study that creates physical and mental risks for participants but provides little potential benefit. Which APA principle is most directly relevant?

Beneficence and nonmaleficence, because researchers should protect participants from harm and consider whether the benefits outweigh the risks.

A researcher determines that a study has some risk, but the expected benefits to society substantially outweigh the risk. What concept is being applied?

Risk-benefit analysis.

A researcher recruits only one disadvantaged segment of the population for a risky study, while the benefits will be enjoyed by the general population. Which ethical principle is most directly violated?

Justice, because the risks are being unfairly concentrated on one segment of the population.

A researcher makes sure participants understand the study and voluntarily agree to participate. Which ethical principle is most directly involved?

Respect, particularly the right to give consent.

A researcher keeps participants' personal information private. Which ethical principle is involved?

Respect, because privacy and confidentiality are protected rights.

A researcher tells participants false information about the risks of participating in a study. Which ethical principle is violated?

Respect, because researchers may not mislead subjects about a study's risks.