PSYC 100 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: American Psychological Association, Stanley Milgram
3 Feb 2018
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Document Summary
In the past, researchers performed all kinds of questionable experiments in the name of science. For example, in one famous experiment, psychologist stanley milgram led his subjects to believe that they were giving painful electric shocks to other people. Many people consider this experiment unethical because it caused the subjects emotional discomfort. Today, researchers must abide by basic ethical norms when conducting research. Most important, they must consider whether they might harm their human or animal subjects while doing research. Ethics refers to a system of moral values or the way people distinguish right from wrong. The american psychological association (apa) requires all its members to adhere to its code of ethics, which applies to the treatment of both humans and animals. Researchers must get informed consent from their subjects before beginning research. Informed consent means that subjects must know enough about the research to decide whether to participate, and they must agree to participate voluntarily.
