Research Ethics and Participant Selection in Psychology

IRB

Institutional Review Board, which protects the welfare of human participants.

IACUC

Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, which judges methods of euthanasia in research.

Research protocols

Research guidelines that must be followed with participants such as non-human animals or human participants.

Kimmel's research (1991)

Indicates that IRB decisions are partially dependent on factors such as gender and university size.

Participant pool

A group of potential research participants (usually college students).

Convenient sample

A type of sample provided by psychology participant pools.

Albino rats

The most common research participants other than humans.

Behavioral diversity

The interest of psychologists in the variety of behaviors across different species.

Research redesign

What a researcher must do if an IRB refuses to approve a study.

Main determinant of organism choice

The type of research problem.

Psychological experiments

Most participants are animals and introductory psychology students.

Number of animals used

Should be maintained to ensure a reasonable amount of power in research.

Euthanasia methods

Must be in accordance with accepted procedures as judged by IACUC.

University size

Larger universities tend to have lower IRB approval rates.

Research approval

Must be obtained from IRB and IACUC before conducting research.

Coercion in research

A common criticism regarding the use of college student participant pools.

Research liability

Increased if a researcher conducts a study without IRB approval.

Pilot study participants

Individuals who are no longer naïve to the researcher's hypothesis.

Research ethics

The principles guiding the treatment of participants in research.

Research proposals

Must contain no risk to participants according to IRB standards.

Animal species choice

Should be appropriate to answer the research question.

Approval rates

Can be influenced by factors such as gender and time of day.

Research participants

Can include both human and non-human subjects.

Research ethics review

A process that includes IACUC and IRB evaluations.

Internal validity

It may compromise internal validity.

External validity

It may compromise external validity.

Confounding variable

It may introduce a confounding variable.

Selection of participants

Participants in human experiments are generally selected at random from the population.

Convenience sampling

Participants in human experiments are generally selected based on convenience and availability.

Source of research participants

has been used with increasing frequency over the past decade is the Internet.

Soliciting participants via the Internet

~ contact an organization or association and ask for their members email address

~ purchase email address from a commercial organization such as a white pages services

~ post a study or survey on a Web site that specializes in advertising such opportunities

Internet recruitment problem

The participants may not be representative of non-Internet users.

Reporting participant details

Reporting of details regarding participant characteristics, selection, and assignment procedures is important to enable other researchers to replicate your findings.

Volunteer vs non-volunteer

Experimenters need to be concerned about differences between volunteers and nonvolunteers.

Non-random selection

If human participants cannot be selected randomly, it becomes more important to report exactly how participants were selected and assigned.

Sample size effect

As sample size increases, the ability to detect statistically significant differences among groups increases.

Power of a statistical test

The probability of rejecting a false null hypothesis is referred to as power.

Power definition

refers to the probability of rejecting a false null hypothesis.

Power significance

Power refers to the chances of rejecting the false null hypothesis.

Desired power level

Researchers would like for power to be at least .80.

Power analysis

allows you to determine the number of participants needed if you also know alpha, power, and effect size.

Determinants of power

The power of a statistical test is determined by all of the above.

Impact on power

The source of participants does NOT impact the power of a statistical test.

Participant number effect

Generally speaking, as the number of the participants in the study increases, power also increases.

Effect size definition

def: is the magnitude of the relationship between the independent variable and the dependent variable.

Measure of effect size

Which of the following is a measure of effect size?

Cohen's d

A measure of effect size.

Automating experimental apparatus

Does not increase the power of statistical tests.

Affordable microcomputers

Considered the greatest technological advance in experimental apparatus.

Uniform presentation of instructions

Not very important how an experimenter greets and interacts with participants.

Handling of rats

Can influence the outcome of the experiment.

Participant no-show

Randomly select and assign new participants to take their place.

Consent to participate form

Must include benefits, purpose, and any monetary or grade benefits.

Informed consent necessity

Should still obtain assent if deemed unnecessary.

Instructions in data collection

Do not explain to participants the true nature of the study.

Writing instructions

Should use simple, easy to understand language.

Postexperimental interview

The session held with participants at the conclusion of the experiment.

Postexperimental obligations

Includes ethical obligations to inform participants about the experiment.

Functions of debriefing

Does not include deception.

Scale on the vertical axis

Required to plot all of the data.

G-Power

A tool used for power analysis in research.

Analysis of variance

A statistical method used to compare means among groups.

Skinner box

A device used in behavioral experiments.

EEG

A method used to record electrical activity of the brain.

Participant interaction

Important for human participants but less so for non-human participants.

Filling participant gaps

Should not take the nearest willing volunteers.

Consent form exceptions

Should not include a disclaimer about harm responsibility.

Study details in consent

Must include where, when, and how long the subject will participate.

Waiver from IRB

Must be requested if informed consent is deemed unnecessary.

Motivating participants

Instructions should also motivate participants to perform well.

Debriefing

A process conducted after an experiment to inform participants about the study, clarify any deception, and assess their psychological state.

Postexperimental interviews

Interviews conducted after an experiment, particularly important when deception is involved.

Educational function of debriefing

Fulfilled when participants learn about the research process during debriefing.

Methodological function of debriefing

Fulfilled when researchers can accurately judge participants' suspicions and perceptions.

Face to face debriefing

The preferred method of debriefing where participants interact directly with researchers.

Questionnaire debriefing

An alternative method of debriefing where participants provide feedback through a written questionnaire.

First step in debriefing

Let participants ask questions about their experience.

function of debriefing

The educational value function is probably least likely to be accomplished.

Disadvantage of posting debriefing information online

An inability to assess the psychological state of the participant.

Pilot research

Research conducted to check out the procedures before collecting the real data.

Conducting a pilot study

A good way to work out the kinks of an experiment.

Pilot study

An experiment using just a few participants to try out new procedures and/or apparatuses.

Internet-based study considerations

Conducting a pilot study and completing the study yourself helps understand participant experience and feedback.

Power

The probability of correctly rejecting the null hypothesis, influenced by sample size.

Effect size

A quantitative measure of the magnitude of an effect in a study, influencing the power of the study.

Advantages of automating experimental procedures

Increases efficiency and reduces human error in data collection.

Consent-to-participate statement

A document outlining important elements that inform participants about the study and their rights.

Instructions for research participants

Important considerations include clarity, comprehensibility, and relevance to the study.

Procedure for conducting a debriefing session

A suggested method that includes informing participants, addressing their questions, and clarifying any deception.

When conducting research with human and non-human participants, the experimenter mustobtain approval of the research plan from ___________ and _____________, respectively

IRB; IACUC