Ethics in the Practice of Research with Human Subjects

Assignment #2 Ethics in the Practice of Research with Human Subjects

In each of the scenarios below, discuss as a group, and decide whether or not the key figures involved have behaved ethically and why.

1. Professor B. Winkle, as part of his responsibilities as a faculty member at Whatsamata U, acts as a supervisor of the research work for a number of graduate students. Typically, this involves several discussions prior to the beginning of the study (perhaps five hours total), some discussion concerning analysis of obtained results, and reading one or two thesis drafts. Professor Winkle and his students almost always jointly publish these studies, and Winkle is invariably senior author.

2. A professor of physical education, P.T., designed a study on the "second wind" phenomenon, which required that research participants engage in grueling and arduous feats of muscular stamina and strength. The proposed project, after compulsory review by the university's Research Ethics Committee, is given a clean bill of health. P.T., much relieved at obtaining ethical clearance, proceeds to conduct the research without further independent assessment of the ethical issues involved.

3. Part of the course requirement for an introductory psychology course is participation as a subject in an experiment. Professor W. James is using some of these students for her research on the effects of high arousal (induced by applying shocks to the fingers) on memory. One student, when informed of the nature of the research, was reluctant to serve as a subject. The experimenter waved aside objections by reminding the student that participation was a course requirement.

4. J.L., a specialist in child development, acted as a consultant to a toy manufacturer. Her job involved testing toys in free-play situations. The manufacturer wished to use the results of the testing in his Christmas advertising and asked J.L. for permission to use her name in this context. This was not to be an endorsement of any particular toy, but only a statement that J.L. had tested the toys. J.L. agreed to allow her name to be used in this way. 5. A team of researchers obtained measures of achievement motivation, creativity, and liking for the teacher from children selected from several private nursery schools. The directors of some of these schools requested copies of all the test scores for each child. Since the researchers felt dependent on the good will of the school administrators for subjects, they provided the information requested.

6. As co-investigators for a large grant-supported study at Ellis Island University concerned with the cultural adjustment problems of new immigrants, XY and XX employed a number of assistants to conduct structured interviews with a representative sample of immigrants. Prior to contacting any research participant, these assistants were given extensive instruction by XX concerning ethical issues relevant to the research. Nevertheless, it comes to their attention that one of the assistants has implied to interviewees that their participation in the research will reflect favorably on their applications for work permits. XX and XY blame the assistant for this behavior and terminate him. In discussing this with their dean, both XX and XY deny responsibility for the ethical breech of the assistant.

Source: Agnew et. al (1987). The science game. (4th ed.) Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice- Hall.