ETHICS in PSYCHOLOGY Ethical issues in different kinds of research Gökçen Duymaz, Phd

EXPERIMENTS Field experiments – In general conducted in more natural environments – Another key feature is that in most field experiments (or any field study) participants are less likely to respond to any demand characteristics or experimenter bias because they probably don’t know that their behaviour is being recorded – the ‘Good Samaritan’ field study Consent form Right to autonomy Issue of privacy

Natural experiments – There are situations where it would be impossible to manipulate an IV but such ‘manipulation’ occurs naturally – St Helena study The behaviors of the participants may have been altered Issue of privacy – The easy to measure variable- gender Exagerration of differences and unrealistic picture of behavours

Laboratory experiments – Deception – Zimbardo experiment

Non experimental research – Observational studies Invasion of privacy Participant observation-where the observer is also a participant in the action Disclosed – Cross-cultural research Impossible to be free from bias – Questionnaire – Research using correlational analysis

Socially sensitive research ‘Studies in which there are potential consequences or implications, either directly for the participants in the research or for the class of individuals represented by the research’ – private, stressful, or sacred, such as sexuality or death. – stigmatisation or fear, such as studies that reveal illegal behaviour. – The presence of a political threat where researchers may study areas subject to controversy or social conflict

What to report – Report of few examples – Report of illegal activities Potential risk of harm and stress Recovery of memories Cultural sensitivity – Exp- 15-point IQ difference between Black and White Americans

Ethnocentrism can be defined as a tendency to under-value the out-group’s products an increased rejection and hostility towards out-group members a tendency to over-value the in-group’s products an increased liking for in-group members (accompanied by pressures for conformity and group cohesion).

two possible sources of bias: – (a) researchers mainly study their own culture; – (b) researchers find it difficult to interpret the behaviour and experience of people from other cultures. In a fairly standard US text by Baron and Byrne (1991) 94 per cent of the 1700 studies mentioned were in fact from the USA

How should psychologists conduct socially sensitive research? the focus of psychologists should be more on what they do rather than what topics should or should not be investigated. – Sampling Snowball or public recruitment – Interviewing techniques – Confidentiality

General principles Competence: Psychologists strive to maintain high standards of competence in their work. They recognize the boundaries of their particular competencies and the limitations of their expertise. They use only those techniques for which they are qualified by education, training, or experience. Psychologists exercise careful judgment and take appropriate precautions to protect the welfare of those with whom they work. They maintain knowledge of relevant scientific and professional information related to the services they render, and they recognize the need for ongoing education. Integrity: Psychologists seek to promote integrity in science, teaching, and practice of psychology. In these activities psychologists are honest, fair, and respectful of others. Concern for Others’ Welfare: Psychologists seek to contribute to the welfare of those with whom they interact professionally. In their professional actions, psychologists weigh the welfare and rights of their patients or clients, students, supervisees Social Responsibility: Psychologists are aware of their professional and scientific responsibilities to the community and the society in which they work and live.

Planning research A. Psychologists design, conduct, and report research in accordance with recognized standards of scientific competence and ethical research. B. Psychologists plan their research so as to minimize the possibility that results will be misleading. C. In planning research, psychologists consider its ethical acceptability under the Ethics Code. If an ethical issue is unclear, psychologists seek to resolve the issue through consultation with institutional review boards, animal care and use committees, peer consultations, and etc. D. Psychologists take reasonable steps to implement appropriate protections for the rights and welfare of human participants, other persons affected by the research, and the welfare of animal subjects.

Responsibility A. Psychologists conduct research competently and with due concern for the dignity and welfare of the participants. B. Psychologists are responsible for the ethical conduct of research conducted by them or by others under their supervision or control. C. Researchers and assistants are permitted to perform only those tasks for which they are appropriately trained and prepared. D. As part of the process of development and implementation of research projects, psychologists consult those with expertise concerning any special population under investigation or most likely to be affected

Compliance with Law and Standards Institutional Approval Informed Consent to Research Dispensing with Informed Consent Informed Consent in Research Filming or Recording Offering Inducements for Research Participants Deception in Research Sharing and Utilizing Data Minimizing Invasiveness Providing Participants with Information About the Study

Care and Use of Animals in Research A. Psychologists who conduct research involving animals treat them humanely. B. Psychologists acquire, care for, use, and dispose of animals in compliance with current federal, state, and local laws and regulations, and with professional standards. C. Psychologists trained in research methods and experienced in the care of laboratory animals supervise all procedures involving animals D. Psychologists ensure that all individuals using animals under their supervision have received instruction in research methods and in the care, maintenance, and handling of the species being used, to the extent appropriate to their role. assisting in a research project are consistent with their respective competencies. F. Psychologists make reasonable efforts to minimize the discomfort, infection, illness, and pain of animal subjects. G. A procedure subjecting animals to pain, stress, or privation is used only when an alternative procedure is unavailable and the goal is justified by its prospective scientific, educational, or applied value. H. Surgical procedures are performed under appropriate anesthesia; techniques to avoid infection and minimize pain are followed during and after surgery. I. When it is appropriate that the animal’s life be terminated, it is done rapidly, with an effort to minimize pain, and in accordance with accepted procedures.

Reporting of Results A. Psychologists do not fabricate data or falsify results in their publications. B. If psychologists discover significant errors in their published data, they take reasonable steps to correct such errors in a correction, retraction, erratum, or other appropriate publication means.

Plagiarism Publication Credit A. Psychologists take responsibility and credit, including authorship credit, only for work they have actually performed or to which they have contributed. B. Principal authorship and other publication credits accurately reflect the relative scientific or professional contributions of the individuals involved, regardless of their relative status. C. A student is usually listed as principal author on any multiple-authored article that is substantially based on the student’s dissertation or thesis.

Duplication of data Sharing Data Professional Reviewers

Research with human participants the responsibility to make a careful evaluation of its ethical acceptability “subject at risk” or a “subject at minimal risk” ensuring ethical practice in research informing the participants of all aspects of the research that might reasonably be expected to influence willingness to participate and explains all other aspects of the research individual’s freedom to decline to participate in or to withdraw from the research at any time. protecting the participant from physical and mental discomfort, harm, and danger Correct undesirable consequences Debriefing Confidentiality

Deception Before conducting such a study, the investigator has a special responsibility to (1) determine whether the use of such techniques s is justified by the study’s prospective scientific, educational, or applied value; (2) determine whether alternative procedures are available that do not use concealment or deception; and (3) ensure that the participants are provided with sufficient explanation as soon as possible.

Case study At a meeting of lawyers, a social psychologist was asked to present the results of her recent research on the decision-making process of juries. In one of her studies, she interviewed each member of a jury involved in a celebrated murder trial. In the study, the identity of each member of the jury was carefully concealed, but she did discuss the deliberative processes of subgroups. For example, the jury had among its members seven women, two African Americans, one foreign-born Italian American, an architect, and a truck driver, and the researcher referred to the voting and deliberative patterns of these groups. When questioned about the ethical propriety of revealing the findings, she said the names of the jurors had not been used and the jurors were now public figures whose opinions were no longer private.