Problem:
Respond to statement below
Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) play a significant role in protecting participants, but ethical responsibility does not end with IRB approval. In this scenario, the APA Ethics Code Standards 5 and 6 are relevant. Standard 5 emphasizes truthful and accurate communication of research findings, while Standard 6 focuses on proper documentation, record keeping, and data integrity (American Psychological Association [APA], 2017). Including unapproved observations without disclosure could violate both standards by misrepresenting what was reviewed and approved by the IRB. Need Assignment Help?
To remain accountable, researchers should not simply ass unapproved observations to reports. Instead, researchers could consult with the IRB to determine whether an amendment or secondary analysis approval is necessary. Institutions support ethical practice by encouraging transparency, documenting deviations, and reinforcing that accuracy is more important than convenience (Fisher, 2017).
If AI tools were used to organize or analyze notes, researchers must disclose this clearly. Ethical concerns include data privacy, bias, and overreliance on automated interpretations. Transparent reporting of AI use supports trust and aligns with ethical expectations for openness and accountability. (Stahl et al., 2021).