Ethics in Research:APA code & Review Boards

Definition

• the study of proper action

• Morality

• right versus wrong

• it is the shared responsibility of the individual, the scientist, and the community of scientists

APA guidelines

• APA states both general and specific guidelines for Psychologists for all aspects of their professional activities

• There are guidelines for psychologists who teach, counsel, and do research

• Website: www.apa.org/ethics/

• On the APA website, the research guidelines are mostly under “8. Research and Publication”

• Course text: Chapter 3

• APA Publication Manual, ed. 6: pages 11-20 on publication ethics

• Must begin process of evaluating a piece of research for ethical issues early in the research process

• after the generation of a testable hypothesis and determination of methodology

• but before any data are gathered, even “pilot” data

• Most of these guidelines did not exist before 1974.

Five General Principles

• There are five “general principles” put forth by APA

• Intention: Guide and inspire to highest ethical standards

• These principles are not detailed enough to make absolute decisions. They are intended as “guidelines” only

#1:Beneficence and Non-maleficence• Strive to benefit those they work with & do no

harm• protect the welfare & rights of those they interact

with professionally (including animals)• Guard against personal, financial, social, &

political factors that might lead to misuse of influence

• Be aware of possible effect of their own physical or mental health on ability to help others

“Gray” areas (Dilemmas)

• Can be “harmed” without being “wronged”

• Patient/Client relationship

#2: Fidelity & Responsibility

• establish relationship of trust• aware of professional & scientific responsibility

to society• avoid conflict of interest• concerned about ethical compliance of

colleagues• contribute a portion of professional time for

little or no money

#3: Integrity

• promote accuracy, honesty in the science, teaching & practice of psychology

• do not steal, cheat, engage in fraud, or intentional misrepresentation (lying)

• keep promises• If deception is necessary, consider the effects

of the deception on the people involved, psychologists in general, & society

• correct any resulting harm it creates

“Gray” areas• Deception can sometimes be allowed BUT it

is given close scrutiny and “debriefing” is necessary.

#4: Justice

• fairness/justice

• right of all people to access and benefit from the contributions of psychology

• Equal quality in process, procedure, services for all people

• Make sure personal biases do not lead to unjust practices

• Sliding scale fees for low income clients

#5: Respect for people’s rights and dignity

• rights to confidentiality, privacy, and self-determination

• protect the rights and welfare of vulnerable populations

• respect cultural, individual, and role differences

• do not condone activities of others based on such prejudices

“Gray area”

• Confidentiality and involvement of parents in mental health services for children and adolescents

Final Responsibility for the ethical aspects of research always rests with the primary investigator or researcher

Review Boards: Human Subjects

National Research Act of 1974

• any institution that receives federal funds (e.g. NSF) must have a committee that reviews any research done with humans to assess the research for potential risks to the participants and the public and any general ethical issues.

Review Boards: Non-human subjects

Department of Agriculture, 1985

• laws governing the care and use of animals in research.

• Must have a committee that oversees the ethical aspects of animal research including both the day-to-day care and use of the animals

Review board for human studies

• IRB-Institutional Review Board

• minimum of five members

• Must include both scientists (familiar with the area of research) and non-scientists

• At least one member not affiliated with the institution at all

Review Board for non-human research

• IACUC- Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee

• must have at least three members• scientist, a vet familiar with the species to be

studied, and a community member• Oversees research with animals AND issues of

daily care • Can perform surprise inspections…at any time

 • Violations can bring ALL research at the

institution to a halt!

Risk:Benefit Ratio • Both committees assess the Risk:Benefit Ratio of

research (Risk-Benefit Analysis)• This is a subjective ratio (not numerical, no

formula)• weigh risks of a piece of research to the subject

& society• compares this to the benefits to subject & society• Must consider the risks of NOT doing the

research

Types of risk

1. Physical- physical harm or discomfort that the study might cause

2. Social-harm that might be done that would cause a subject to be uncomfortable when going back to their social world (embarrassment, shame, usually a breach of confidentiality)

3. Psychological-mental or emotional stress, subject is made to feel stupid/bad or feels threatened or fearful

4. Minimal risk-risks of everyday life, not greater nor of a different sort than the person would experience in their normal day-to-day life

Research proposal

• The job of the IRB and IACUC committees is to evaluate research proposals for ethical issues

• The researcher must include in the research proposal the following 11 pieces of information:

• (You do NOT need to know these for the exam but I do think you should see what a real proposal would need to contain)

• the purpose of the study

• qualifications of the investigators (researchers)

• characteristics of the participants/subjects

• How will they be recruited? Will they be “compensated”?

• Methods to be used

• Procedure for obtaining consent

• Potential risks • Deception, if any• How will confidentiality be protected?• How will debriefing be conducted?• Potential benefits to the individual and society

• The review board then weighs the risks and benefits:

• Risk:Benefit ratio or Risk:Benefit Analysis