Ethics in Ethics in Psychological Psychological

ResearchResearch

Ghostbusters

Most basic ethical Most basic ethical concern?concern?

Avoid causing HarmAvoid causing HarmPsychological or PhysiologicalPsychological or Physiological

““The concern for value The concern for value applies to all scientific applies to all scientific

endeavors, but the focus endeavors, but the focus on living beings (animals on living beings (animals

as well as people) in as well as people) in psychology makes psychology makes

concerns about ethics concerns about ethics more immediate than in more immediate than in the natural sciences.” the natural sciences.” (Glassman and Hadad, (Glassman and Hadad,

2004)2004)

Governing EntitiesGoverning Entities

Every major country has published its Every major country has published its own code of ethics for research.own code of ethics for research.

American Psychological AssociationAmerican Psychological Association British Psychological SocietyBritish Psychological Society Canadian Psychological AssociationCanadian Psychological Association

This is a good attempt at uniformity. This is a good attempt at uniformity. Social standards are constantly shifting Social standards are constantly shifting making it difficult to produce universal making it difficult to produce universal

agreement.agreement.

Stanley Milgram and Stanley Milgram and ObedienceObedience

What is the controversy of this What is the controversy of this study?study? Was Milgram insensitive to his subjects Was Milgram insensitive to his subjects

suffering? suffering? Did Milgram’s own attitude produce the Did Milgram’s own attitude produce the

results he wanted to see? results he wanted to see?

DeceptionDeception

Deception occurs when participants Deception occurs when participants are not fully informed about their are not fully informed about their participation in research. participation in research. Is it realistic to inform participants all the Is it realistic to inform participants all the

time?time? ExamplesExamples

Can’t coerce a subject to participateCan’t coerce a subject to participate Subject’s will be given a full debriefing Subject’s will be given a full debriefing

after their participationafter their participation Researcher can justify using deceptionResearcher can justify using deception

DeceptionDeception

Some will argue that deception Some will argue that deception should only be used when absolutely should only be used when absolutely necessary. Do not do it just to do it. necessary. Do not do it just to do it. Think about what the researcher Think about what the researcher wants to test and see if there are wants to test and see if there are alternatives to deception.alternatives to deception.

Is it okay to deceive if society benefits Is it okay to deceive if society benefits from the research?from the research?

““Having served on Having served on ethical review boards, I ethical review boards, I

know that good know that good researchers recognize researchers recognize that they bear a moral that they bear a moral responsibility for their responsibility for their

work…”work…”(Glassman and Hadad, (Glassman and Hadad,

2004)2004)