Problem:
This workshop thinks critically about ethical issues in research. Furthermore, it will be an opportunity to apply learned when we discussed the basics of experiments, how to develop a procedure, and how to select appropriate measurements. Below, find some examples of research. For each one, at least three ethical issues likely to pose IRB problems. Show why they are problematic, then suggest three ways to improve the research so that it could be carried out in compliance with ethical standards.
Prompt 1: The effect of the number of gymgoers on gymgoers' behavior was investigated in a gym locker room. A research assistant followed gymgoers into the locker room and sat next to him while he was changing, or using the stall/urinal. The gymgoers were not aware that they were taking part in a study. The idea behind the research was that the number of people in the locker room would increase the amount of time needed for gymgoers to change, shower, and use the stall. The research assistant measured all these behaviors while following the participant. Need Assignment Help?
Prompt 2: A team of social psychologists is interested in studying the effect of emotions on self esteem. In this study, the experimenters plan to induce depression, anger, and sadness in three separate groups of participants. For these, participants are told that they are taking part in an online group discussion with other study participants. However, no other participants were present and all communications came from a confederate. In the depression condition, the confederate asked the participant to recall situations in which she/he lacked to exercise, drank excessive sugary drinks, and when she/he was rejected by peers and friends. In the anger condition, the confederate verbally abused the participants. In the sadness condition, the confederate asked the participant to recall situations in which e.g., she lost a friend, a pet, or something/someone meaningful. During the session, the confederate took screenshots of the participants' face to later analyze emotional reactions using ad-hoc technology participants were not informed of.
Prompt 3: A clinical psychologist is interested in comparing the effectiveness of numeracy (e.g., arithmetic and numerical reasoning skills) interventions across different groups of middle school students. One group of students will receive no training, another will receive the intervention training, and a final group will receive another treatment training that de-emphasize numerical skills. Unbeknownst to their parents, children will be observed during a period of six months, during which different measures will be recorded. These includes general IQ testing measures, scores on tests (academic performance) and personal information about the student (e.g., name, last name, address).
Prompt 4: A sport psychologist wants to examine whether listening to different types of music can make people workout harder. The psychologist sets up a lab with a stationary bike and a treadmill. He/she wants to assign college students to three different conditions. In one condition, participants will listen to heavy metal music. In another condition, they will listen to dance music. In the last condition, they will listen to rap music. During the experimenter, the psychologist will also increase or decrease the volume to gauge how research participants deal with this stressor. The main dependent variable will be the number of miles ran in 30 minutes.
Prompt 5: Some psychologists want to study how men react to scenes of aggression while walking alone vs. in groups. For this study, the researchers intend to have two confederates (a man and a woman) staging a fight in a parking lot. The confederates are instructed to escalate the fight to the extent to which the man becomes very aggressive (e.g., grabs the woman's arms, pushes her around). At this point, it becomes clear that the woman needs help. The psychologists running the experiment will be hiding in the same parking lot. They will observe and video record the interaction to measure men passerby's willingness to help. At the end of the study, participants who decided to help will be stopped and informed of the true purpose of the study while those who decided not to will not.