Ethical PsychologyHow to conduct research in an

ethical manner

What are Ethics?

◦Standards for proper and responsible behavior

◦Promote dignity, foster human well-being, and maintain scientific integrity

Those that were unethical

Harry Harlow (separated baby monkeys from mothers to research attachment)

Phil Zimbardo (Students role playing prisoner guards to measure the impact of authority roles)

Stanley Milgram (“painful shocks” to another person to measure obedience)

All were highly publicized in the 1960s and 1970s and ethical guidelines were strengthened

APA Guidelines

No Unnecessary Deception

No pain to humans or animals

Protect confidentiality

Confidentiality

Keep personal information privateDo NOT share information that could

be harmful to the individual(s)Keep data objective Store data in a secure locationDon’t skew your data to support

your hypothesis◦It’s alright for your hypothesis to be null

Informed Consent

Some research may cause stress or discomfort if so, you must receive informed consent.

Explain study and allow participants to have a choice to participate or not.

If under 18 must receive PARENTAL CONSENT

Debriefed

The nature of the experiment (what was being studied)

The results and conclusions must be shared with all participants