PSY 450 Lecture 3:
Chapter 4: Ethics in Research
Ethical Principles in Research
•What is research ethics?
•Researchers must...
•treat human research participants with respect and dignity
•Care for the welfare of animals subjects of research
•Be scrupulously honest in the treatment and presentation of data
The Nuremberg Code of 1947
• Issue of ethics stemmed from Nuremberg trails at the end of the WW2
• In-humane experiments being conducted on war criminals in concentration camps
• e.g., brutalities, tortures, disabling injury, and death
• Nuremburg Code: a list of conditions that regulated the use of human subjects in research which stressed
•Consent to participate in research
•Fully informed of the mature of the study
• Risks should be avoided whenever possible
• Right to discontinue at any time
The Tuskegee Syphilis Study (1932-1972)
• Studying the effects of syphilis on different race
•Poor black participants easy to induce to visit clinics
•Never informed of the nature of the study
• Participants left untreated for decades even though they were dying at twice the rate as the control group
and had more medical complications
Stanley Milgram’s Experiment (1963)
Establishing Ethical Guidelines
• The Belmont Report (1979) identifies three basic ethical principles for protecting human subjects
•Respect for persons
•individuals should consent to participation
• those who cannot need extra protection
•Beneficence
•Do not harm
• minimize risks, maximize benefits
•Justice
•Fairness
• e.g., in selecting participants
Developing the APA Code of Ethics
• First code of ethics in psychology -> 1953
•For both clinical practice and research
•Most recent revision of code of ethics in 2002 (plus amendments added in 2010)
• 5 general Ethnical Principles
• Suggested guidelines, to standards or obligations
• 89 Ethnical Standard
• clustered into ten different categories
• specific rules to provide then basis for charges of unethical conduct
5 General Principles of the APA code
•Beneficence and Non-Malfeasance: Constantly weigh costs & benefits; achieve the greatest good
•Fidelity and Responsibility: Constantly be aware of responsibility to society; always exemplify the highest
standards of professional behavior
•Integrity: be scrupulously honest in all aspects of the profession
•Justice: Always treat people fairly; reduce bias
•Respect for peoples’ Rights and Dignity: Safeguard the welfare and protect the rights of participants
APA Code of Ethics: Major Issues
•No harm
• Subjects must be protected from physical and psychological harm
•Minimize risk
•Any possible risk must be justified
•Halt studies if necessary
Document Summary
Researchers must treat human research participants with respect and dignity. Care for the welfare of animals subjects of research. Be scrupulously honest in the treatment and presentation of data. The nuremberg code of 1947 e. g. , brutalities, tortures, disabling injury, and death. Issue of ethics stemmed from nuremberg trails at the end of the ww2. In-humane experiments being conducted on war criminals in concentration camps. Nuremburg code: a list of conditions that regulated the use of human subjects in research which stressed. Fully informed of the mature of the study. Studying the effects of syphilis on different race. Poor black participants easy to induce to visit clinics. Never informed of the nature of the study. Participants left untreated for decades even though they were dying at twice the rate as the control group and had more medical complications. The belmont report (1979) identifies three basic ethical principles for protecting human subjects.
