Psych2.4

Research Involving Human Participants

  • Governance of Human Experimentation

    • Research involving human subjects is governed by strict guidelines to prevent harm.

    • Institutions receiving federal support for such research must have access to an Institutional Review Board (IRB).

    • The IRB is a committee composed of:

    • Members of the institution's administration

    • Scientists

    • Community members

    • The primary purpose of the IRB is to review research proposals involving human participants to ensure ethical standards are met.

  • Approval Process by the IRB

    • Approval from the IRB is required before an experiment can proceed.

    • The IRB checks for several key components in any research proposal:

    • Informed Consent:

      • Each participant must sign an informed consent form before participation.

      • The form includes a written description of what participants can expect, including:

      • Potential risks

      • Implications of the research

      • Clearly states that participation is voluntary and can be withdrawn at any time without penalty.

      • Ensures confidentiality of the data collected.

      • For participants under 18, parents or legal guardians must sign the informed consent form.

    • Deception:

      • Sometimes deception is necessary to prevent knowledge about the research question from affecting results.

      • Deception must not cause harm to participants.

      • Example: Describing an experiment on opinion affected by attire while concealing the true purpose to avoid bias.

      • Participants must receive a debriefing post-study, which includes:

      • Full details about the experiment's purpose

      • How data will be used

      • Reasons for the deception

      • Information on how to obtain additional study information

Research Involving Animal Subjects

  • Animal Research in Psychology

    • Many psychologists utilize animal subjects in experiments, commonly rodents and birds.

    • According to the APA (American Psychological Association), 90% of animal research in psychology uses these species.

    • Basic processes in these animals often parallel those in humans, making them suitable research subjects where human experimentation is

Research Involving Human Participants

  • Governance and the IRB

    • Human research is overseen by the Institutional Review Board (IRB), a committee of administrators, scientists, and community members.

    • The IRB must approve all proposals to ensure ethical standards.

  • Ethical Requirements

    • Informed Consent: Participants must sign a form outlining expectations, risks, voluntary nature, and confidentiality. Guardians sign for minors.

    • Deception: Permitted only if necessary/harmless to prevent bias.

    • Debriefing: Required after deception to explain the study's true purpose and data usage.

Research Involving Animal Subjects

  • Scope in Psychology

    • Approximately 90%90\% of psychological research involving animals uses rodents and birds.

    • These subjects are chosen because their basic biological and behavioral processes often mirror those of humans, allowing for research that cannot be ethically performed on people.