Psychology Chapter 15 - Ethical Issues

Approaches to Ethical Decisions

• Ethical decisions in behavioral research hinge on two primary obligations: enhancing understanding of behavior and protecting the rights and welfare of subjects.
• Deontology emphasizes adherence to a universal moral code in determining ethics.
• Ethical skepticism posits that ethical decisions are subjective and depend on individual conscience.
• Utilitarianism advocates weighing potential benefits against potential costs of actions.

Basic Ethical Guidelines

• Guidelines set by organizations such as the American Psychological Association (APA) provide ethical standards for professional behavior and research with human and nonhuman subjects.
• Research with human participants must undergo review to protect their welfare, considering cost-benefit analysis and potential research improvements.
• Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) are mandated for all federally funded institutions to ensure ethical oversight of human participant research.
• Key ethical issues include adequate informed consent, privacy invasions, coercion, risks of harm, potential deception, and confidentiality violations.

The Principle of Informed Consent

• Informed consent ensures participants are fully aware of study details and their rights, allowing them to agree to participate knowingly.
• Essential components of informed consent include the research purpose, methods, risks, benefits, confidentiality limits, and participant rights.
• Problems with obtaining informed consent arise when participants are incapable of giving consent, which can compromise study validity.

Invasion of Privacy

• Individuals possess the right to determine how and when their personal information is disclosed.
• Current guidelines from the APA do not comprehensively address privacy invasions in research settings.

Coercion to Participate

• Coercion is present when participants feel real or implied pressure from authority figures to participate in research.

Physical and Mental Stress

• Minimal risk involves harm or discomfort that does not exceed everyday experiences.
• Additional safeguards are required when research poses more than minimal risk to ensure participant welfare.

Deception

• Deception in research can involve misleading participants about the true purpose or providing incorrect information to avoid bias.
• Ethical concerns about deception include the moral implications of dishonesty and the potential for negative outcomes from such practices.

Confidentiality

• Researchers must protect participant data confidentiality, ensuring anonymity and secure data handling.
• Identifiable information should be minimized or eliminated to maintain participant privacy.

Debriefing

• Debriefing serves to clarify the study's purpose, alleviate participant stress, and gather feedback on their experience, reinforcing the value of their contribution.

Vulnerable Populations

• Special considerations are necessary for vulnerable groups, including children and prisoners, to ensure informed consent and protection from coercion.
• Particular care is needed for individuals with impaired consent capacity and at-risk populations like those considering suicide or affected by pregnancy.

Ethical Principles in Research with Nonhuman Animals

• The Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) oversees ethical standards for research involving animals, adhering to federal guidelines.
• Ethical obligations include minimizing suffering and justifying any procedures causing more than slight pain.

Scientific Misconduct

• Key types of misconduct include fabrication, falsification, and plagiarism, each necessitating correction when discovered.
• Unethical behaviors such as harassment, conflicts of interest, and regulatory failures undermine research integrity.

Ethical Issues in Analyzing Data and Reporting Results

• Researchers must avoid practices like data cleaning or selective reporting, which can distort research findings and mislead the scientific community.
• Ethical analysis focuses on how actions would be perceived by peers in the research field.

Suppression of Scientific Inquiry and Research Findings

• Historical instances of suppression include objections to groundbreaking theories by authorities, reflecting challenges in scientific exploration.
• Legislation and institutional barriers have historically halted diverse research topics, demonstrating tensions between research and societal perceptions.

Final Note on Ethical Abuses

• Adherence to APA principles and federal regulations should be coupled with common sense to avoid ethical infringements in research practices.