In-Depth Notes on Research Ethics and Historical Context

Meeting Objectives

• Understand the history of the code of ethics.

• Apply research ethics to psychological research.

What is Research?

• A systematic investigation designed to contribute to scientific knowledge.

• Entails searching for truth through facts, and must be methodologically sound.

Research Ethics

• Comprises acceptable standards for conducting research involving human subjects.

• Key components:

  • Moral and Social Standards: Govern what behaviors are acceptable or unacceptable in research.

  • Scientific Norms: Developed over time, these norms are established within the research community. They address:

    - Factual accuracy.

    - Transparency.

    - Accountability.

  • Institutional Norms: Ensure research honesty and integrity, promoting open criticism.

Historical Background of Research Ethics

• Driven by societal changes in morality and human rights awareness:

  • Early Foundations: Aristotelian principles in ancient Greece, the Hippocratic Oath as an early ethical guideline.

  • Nuremberg Code (1947): Established due to WW II medical experiments, emphasizing voluntary consent and minimizing harm.

  • Declaration of Helsinki (1964): Further emphasized participant safety in experimental trials.

  • Institutional Review Committees (IRBs): Created in the U.S. during the 1970s to review ethical research practices involving humans.

Examples of Unethical Research Practices

• Historical cases include:

  • Tuskegee Syphilis Study (1932-1972): African American men with syphilis were denied treatment for study purposes.

  • Milgram Experiment (1961): Explored obedience to authority through unethical methods that caused psychological distress.

  • Nazi Medical Experiments: Numerous unethical tests during WWII that disregarded human rights.

The Belmont Report (1979)

• Established three core ethical principles for research:

  1. Respect for Persons: Autonomy, informed consent, and protection for vulnerable populations.

  2. Beneficence: Maximizing benefits and minimizing risks to participants.

  3. Justice: Fair distribution of research benefits and burdens.

Principles of Ethical Research

• Do No Harm: Ensure participants are not harmed physically, psychologically, or economically.

• Informed Consent: Participants must fully understand the nature of the research before agreeing to participate.

• Confidentiality: Participants' identities must be protected, and their rights respected.

Future Challenges in Research Ethics

• Ethical dilemmas are increasing due to:

  • Advances in AI and biotechnology (e.g., CRISPR gene editing).

  • Privacy and data security issues.

  • Global collaboration requiring respect for diverse cultural standards and ethical norms.

  • The balance between research benefits versus environmental impact and sustainability.