⚖️ Ethics in Research

What was the Nuremberg Code (1947)?

Response to Nazi atrocities; emphasized voluntary consent and avoiding unnecessary suffering.

What was the Declaration of Helsinki (1964)?

International ethics guidelines for medical research.

What was the Belmont Report (1979)?

U.S. report establishing Respect for Persons, Beneficence, and Justice as ethical principles.

What does "Respect for persons" mean in the Belmont Report?

Ensure informed consent and respect autonomy.

What does "Beneficence" mean in the Belmont Report?

Do good and minimize harm to participants.

What does "Justice" mean in the Belmont Report?

Fairness in selection and treatment of participants.

What was unethical about the Little Albert study?

No informed consent and psychological harm to a child.

What was unethical about the Tuskegee Syphilis Study?

No consent, withheld treatment, and racial discrimination.

What was unethical about Milgram's obedience experiments?

Caused psychological distress and used deception.

What was unethical about MK-Ultra and Operation Midnight Climax?

Gave people LSD without consent; extreme deception.

What was unethical about Humphreys' Tearoom Study?

Violation of privacy and confidentiality.

What is the first APA Ethics Code principle?

No harm - minimize risks and justify them through cost-benefit analysis.

What is the second APA Ethics Code principle?

Privacy and confidentiality - protect participant data and identities.

What is the third APA Ethics Code principle?

Institutional approval - obtain IRB approval before human research.

What is the fourth APA Ethics Code principle?

Competence - researchers must be trained and qualified.

What is the fifth APA Ethics Code principle?

Record keeping - store data securely and share only with consent.

What must informed consent include?

Purpose, risks/benefits, right to withdraw, confidentiality limits, incentives, and contact info.

What extra info is needed for clinical trials?

Experimental nature, withdrawal options, assignment methods, and compensation details.

When can informed consent be waived?

Normal educational settings, anonymous surveys, naturalistic or archival research, or internal organizational studies.

What are the rules about inducements?

No excessive or coercive incentives allowed.

When is deception allowed in research?

Only when justified, with no pain or distress, and if no other method exists.

What must follow deception in research?

Debriefing as soon as possible.

What should debriefing include?

Explanation of withheld info, correction of misconceptions, and reassurance of participant well-being.

Can debriefing be delayed?

Yes, but only when necessary and with safeguards.

Who oversees animal research ethics?

IACUC (Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee).

What are APA animal research ethics rules?

Follow laws, train staff, minimize pain/illness, use anesthesia, and justify any harm.

When are painful animal procedures allowed?

Only when no alternative exists and benefits justify the cost.

What is required for humane euthanasia in research?

Use of anesthesia and humane procedures following regulations.

What are key rules to prevent research fraud?

Don't fabricate, falsify, or plagiarize data; correct errors promptly.

How is research fraud prevented?

Peer review, replication, and proper documentation.

What are consequences of fraud?

Loss of funding, degrees, or jobs.

Why was the ESP study unethical?

Selective reporting biased the results.

Why was recruiting friends for a study unethical?

Violates sampling ethics and can bias results.

Why is using student work without credit unethical?

It's plagiarism and exploitation.

Why was the fake crime study unethical?

Realistic deception caused psychological risk.

Why was the rat vitamin A study unethical?

Used harmful doses without sufficient justification.

What is the ethical debate around the Right to Try Act?

Questions whether patients' autonomy should outweigh safety regulations.