1
Q
One is one pronlem with experimentation in psychology?
A
Any harm caused to participants is not always immediately obvious
2
Q
The tuskegee syphilis study
A
- In the late 1920s-1930s, 35% of black men living in Southern US tested positive for syphilis, and it was largerly untreatable at the time
- In 1932 the US public Health Service and The Tuskegee Institute in Alabama used 600 black men to study “What are the effects of untreatable syphilis over long term?”.
- Researchers followed each man until death, who were never told they had syphilis, never given any beneficial treatment, and were lied to about painful procedures (spinal taps)
3
Q
What were the consequences of The Tuskegee Syphilis Study?
A
- 250 men registered to join the US Armed forces in WWII, who could not enlist bc of their syphilis status. Researchers did not provide treatment so these men could not serve.
- Many of the participants unkowngly infected their partners, causing congenital syphilis in children
- In 1943 penicillin was approved to treat syphilis. But, no info/treatment was given to participants. The study continued until 1972.
4
Q
Easter Egg:
A
Origin of Species (Darwin) published in 1859
5
Q
Ethical violations from Tuskegee Syphilis study
A
- Parteipants were not treated with respect or dignity: Researchers lied+withheld information, did not allow the men to make informed decisions, and coercion (death benefits)
- Men were harmed: not told about potential treatments, subjected to painful tests
- Researchers targeted a disadvantaged group: Many different kinds of ppl had syphillis, but all men in the study were poor and black
6
Q
Some consequences are less obvious than others
Milgram study (1960s)
A
- Milgrim was interested in concept of obedience to authority, asked: What would you do bc someone in charge told you to?
- Design: Participants were normal people playing role of “teacher.” Fake elderly man the “learner.” The teacher shocks the elderly when he gets a question wrong, and the voltage increases each time.
- Results: 65% of people went to the highest voltage (450)
7
Q
Ethical considerations of Milgram study
A
- In the debrief to participants: participants were told about the hypothesis and met the “learner.” Were not told the learned never experienced shock, ppl reported feeling bad and worrying about the learner for weeks
- The experiment repeated 18 times: learned this causes significant stress, yet did not modify procedures
- “He that swings a cat by the tail learns a lesson he can learn no other way.”
8
Q
What was the Belmont Report?
A
- 1976 commision of scientists, philosophers, and others gathered at Belmont Conference Center in Maryland
- Outlined 3 principles for guiding ethical decision making: Respect for persons, beneficience, justice
9
Q
Easter Egg
A
Kitty genovese, bydtander effect/respect for persons
10
Q
Belmont report
Respect for person idea
A
- Ppl should be treated as autonomous agents
- Informed consent
- Cannot mislead ppl about risks/benefits
- Cannot imply negative consequence for not participating (coercion)
- Cannot compensate so much that it is too attractive to refuse
- If ppl have less autonomy (children, disabled, prisoners, military): they are entitiled to additional protections, may not understand enough to get informed concent and be more susceptible to coercion
11
Q
Belmont Report
Principle of Beneficience
A
- Researchers must: protect ppl from harm, ensure their well being, and protect anonymity
- Involves the researcher taking into consideration how the community will be influenced by this research. Such as costs/risks and benefits of doing the research on the community.
12
Q
Belmont Report
Principle of Justice
A
- Fair representation of participants in the study and those that benefit from it. Because, if you are only collecting data from one population, you get external validity concerns and are exposing one group to risks disproportionately
- To what extent do participants resemble the ppl that will benefit from the research (Tuskegee, Tuburculosis in prison patients)
13
Q
Gray table for Belmont Report
Beneficence
A
- A. Beneficenceand nonmaleficence: Treat people in ways that benefit them. Do not cause suffereing. Conduct research that will benefit society.
- B. Fidelity and responsibility: Establish relationships of trust; accept responsibility for professional behavior (in research, teaching, and clinical practice).
- C. Integrity: Strive to be accurate, truthful, and honest in one’s role as researcher, teacher, or practitioner.
14
Q
Gray Table for Belmont Report
Justice
A
D. Justice: Strive to treat all groups of people fairly. Sample research participants from the same populations that will benefit from the research. Be aware of biases.
15
Q
Gray Table for Belmont Report
Respect for persons
A
- E. Respect for people’s rights and dignity: Recognize that people are autonomous agents. Protect people’s rights, including the right to privacy, the right to give consent for treatment of research, an the right to have participation treated confidentially. Understand that some populations may be less able to give autonomous consent, and take precautions against coercing such people.
16
Q
IRB: Institutional Review Board
A
- Committee responsible for evaluating proposed research, interpreting ethical principles, and ensuring research w/ human participants are treated ethically.
- Informed consent: Explains the study in everyday language, risks/benefits of study, how will data be treated. This is not always required (observations, state tests/educational settings)
17
Q
IRB
Deception
A
- Deception: sometimes necessary (Milgram+Cyberball). Even in the most straightforward studies, participants are not told everything.
- Deception by omission: Info withheld
- Deception through commission: researcher tells a lie to participant
18
Q
Why are there ethical considerations for animal research
A
- Nonhuman animals cannot consent
- Cannot explain their discomfort
- Can experience pain and suffering
19
Q
What are the APA ethical guidelines for care of animals in research?
A
- NH animals must be treated humanely
- Given access tovet care when needed
- Efforts must be made to reduce pain/distress
20
Q
The three Rs of Animal Care Guidelines
A
- Replacement: when possible, we should use alternative models (computer stimulations, AI)
- Refinement: Modify experimental procedures and other aspects of care to minimize or eliminate animal distress
- Reduction: Researcher should adopt experimental designs that required the fewest animals possible
The IACUC proves oversight on animal care and use
21
Q
Cambridge Declaration of consciousness (2012)
A
- Group of some of the most respected scientists in the world
- Declared, based on the evidence, that mmals, birds and some invertebrates have neuroanatomical, neurochemical, and neurophysiological substrates of consciousness. And capacity to exhbit intentional behavior
- “If you have neocortex you are conscious”
22
Q
New York Declaration of Consciousness (2024)
A
- Expanded on this to include all animals + some insects
- The paradox- we only know this through research
Psyc 344- Research Methods
flashcards
Decks in class (10)
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