Ethics In Research Became A Major Concern After Many Cases

Ethics In Research Became A Large Concern After Many Of The Social Exp

Ethics in research became a significant concern following the controversial social experiments conducted in the mid-20th century. These experiments, including the Stanford Prison Experiment, Asch's Conformity Experiment, and Milgram's Shock-Obedience Study, raised critical questions about the morality of using deception and exposing participants to psychological harm. While deception can help maintain the integrity and reliability of research findings, it also poses profound ethical dilemmas that must be carefully considered. This essay explores these experiments' ethical issues and evaluates whether researchers should be permitted to use deception in their studies.

Ethical Concerns in the Stanford Prison Experiment, Asch's Conformity Experiment, and Milgram's Shock-Obedience Study

The Stanford Prison Experiment, conducted by Philip Zimbardo in 1971, sought to investigate the psychological effects of perceived power by simulating a prison environment. Participants were assigned roles as prisoners or guards, and the experiment rapidly devolved into abuse and psychological torment. Ethical concerns here centered on the lack of informed consent, the failure to protect participants from harm, and the researchers' inability to stop the study once the situation spiraled out of control. The experiment highlighted how role identity and authority could lead individuals to behave unethically when supervised by an authority figure, raising questions about the limits of scientific investigation at the expense of participant welfare.

Asch's Conformity Experiment, conducted by Solomon Asch in the 1950s, tested whether individuals would conform to group opinion even when it was clearly incorrect. Participants believed they were part of a line judgment task but were influenced by confederates who deliberately provided wrong answers. While considered less harmful psychologically than other studies, ethical issues relate to deception—participants were misled about the nature of the experiment—and whether informed consent was adequately obtained. The psychological stress involved in conforming against one's own judgment also raised concerns about the impact on participants' well-being.

Milgram's Shock-Obedience Experiment, conducted by Stanley Milgram in 1961, investigated obedience to authority by instructing participants to administer what they believed were painful electric shocks to another person. Participants were led to believe they were causing genuine pain, emphasizing obedience's power. The primary ethical issue was the deception involved and the emotional distress experienced by participants who believed they inflicted harm on others. Milgram faced criticism for failing to fully disclose the true nature of the experiment and for potentially causing lasting psychological harm to participants who experienced distress during the study.

Should Researchers Be Allowed to Use Deception in Experiments?

The debate over the use of deception in research hinges on balancing scientific progress and ethical responsibilities. Proponents argue that deception is sometimes necessary to achieve valid results, especially in studies where participants' awareness might alter their behavior and compromise data integrity. For example, Milgram's findings relied heavily on deception to mimic real-world obedience pressures accurately. If such experiments are to yield meaningful insights into human behavior, some level of deception may be unavoidable.

However, ethical standards established by institutions like the American Psychological Association emphasize the importance of informed consent, minimizing harm, and debriefing participants thoroughly after studies. These principles suggest that deception should only be used when absolutely necessary, and researchers must justify its use with strong scientific rationale. The potential benefits of uncovering truths about human nature need to be carefully weighed against the possible psychological harm inflicted upon participants. Moreover, ethical review boards play a crucial role in scrutinizing studies to ensure that deception is justified and risks are minimized.

In conclusion, while deception can be a valuable tool in social science research, it must be employed judiciously. Researchers should prioritize transparency, protect participant welfare, and debrief thoroughly to mitigate ethical concerns. Ultimately, the integrity of scientific inquiry should not come at the expense of individual rights and well-being, and only under strict ethical oversight should deception be allowed in research.

References

• American Psychological Association. (2017). Ethical principles of psychologists and code of conduct. Retrieved from https://www.apa.org/ethics/code
• Blass, T. (2004). The psychological study of obedience: Historical concepts and recent developments. Journal of Social Issues, 60(4), 651–669.
• Griggs, R. (2012). Ethical challenges in social psychology experiments. Ethics & Behavior, 22(4), 276–287.
• Milgram, S. (1963). Behavioral Study of Obedience. Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 67(4), 371–378.
• Reicher, S., & Haslam, S. A. (2012). Rethinking the psychology of tyranny: The BBC prison study. Political Psychology, 33(3), 373–378.
• Sanford, J. P. (2010). Ethics in social research: Challenges and debates. New York: Routledge.
• Zimbardo, P. G. (1971). The power and pathology of imprisonment. Congressional Record, 1971(1), 338–342.