Researchers In Psychology Including Students Must Follow

Researchers In Psychology Including Students Must Follow Theamerican

Researchers in psychology (including students) must follow the American Psychological Association’s (APA’s) Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct (2010) to protect the rights and welfare of research participants and ensure no harm will come to them. Furthermore, an Institutional Review Board (IRB) committee must review and approve all research studies involving humans and/or animals before they begin. It is the IRB committee’s responsibility to evaluate proposed research studies per the APA’s ethical principles and codes of conduct as well as to assess the possible benefits and risks of the studies. An effective way to develop your research skills is to analyze sample studies.

For this Assignment, you will review brief research descriptions, identify and address ethical issues, and apply an alternative research methodology. To prepare: Review again Chapter 1 from the course text. Read Chapter 3 from the course text. Read the American Psychological Association’s Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct: Including 2010 Amendments.

Paper For Above instruction

In this paper, I will analyze a selected psychological research study to identify potential ethical issues and propose an alternative research design that adheres to APA ethical guidelines. The chosen study involves covert observation of initial interactions between individuals, specifically students waiting for an experiment. This scenario offers significant ethical concerns primarily related to informed consent, privacy, and potential harm, which I will explore in detail.

Analysis of Ethical Issues

The most prominent ethical concern in this study involves the violation of the principles of respect for persons, beneficence, and justice as outlined by the APA. According to the APA’s Ethical Principles (American Psychological Association, 2010), informed consent is a cornerstone of ethical research, requiring participants to be fully aware of the nature of the study and their participation. Covert observation, by definition, bypasses the informed consent process, infringing on participants’ autonomy and their right to make an informed decision about involvement. Furthermore, privacy concerns emerge because the individuals being videotaped are unaware they are part of a research study, potentially exposing sensitive information about their interactions without permission.

Additionally, there is concern about possible psychological or social harm. If participants feel their privacy has been invaded or that they have been secretly recorded, they could experience distress or embarrassment if they learn about the observation after the fact. These issues directly conflict with the APA’s ethical standards that aim to prevent harm and protect participants from psychological distress. Finally, the issue of fairness arises; the participants were not informed about the research, which could be viewed as unjust and an unfair burden placed on individuals who have no control over being observed.

Proposed Alternative Research Design

To address these ethical concerns while still achieving the research goal, a naturalistic observation method combined with informed consent could be used. In this alternative design, researchers would set up a designated observation area where students agree in advance to participate in research related to social interactions. Participants would provide informed consent prior to observation, acknowledging that their behaviors might be recorded in a natural setting related to social interactions.

The setup would involve recruiting volunteers from the student body through flyers or advertisements, clearly explaining the purpose of the study, the procedures involved, and data confidentiality measures. The research team would then unobtrusively observe and record initial social interactions within this natural setting, ensuring minimal interference with participants’ behaviors. This method preserves ecological validity while respecting autonomy and privacy since participants are aware of and agree to the observation. Furthermore, using video recordings only with participants’ consent and ensuring data confidentiality aligns with APA standards concerning privacy and data security (American Psychological Association, 2010).

Additionally, the research could incorporate simulated interactions or role-play scenarios where participants voluntarily engage in social exchanges under controlled conditions. This approach allows researchers to manipulate specific variables while minimizing ethical concerns, such as involuntary observation or covert recording, and ensures that participants are fully informed and willing to participate.

Conclusion

In conclusion, ethical standards are paramount in psychological research to protect participants from harm and uphold the integrity of the scientific process. The covert videotaping study discussed presents clear violations of informed consent and privacy, which could be rectified by adopting naturalistic observation with prior informed consent or simulated scenarios. These modifications respect participants’ autonomy and privacy rights while still enabling researchers to gather meaningful data. Adhering to APA guidelines not only safeguards individuals but also enhances the credibility and ethical standing of psychological research.

References

• American Psychological Association. (2010). Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct. APA.
• Babbie, E. (2017). Principles of Social Research. Cengage Learning.
• Creswell, J. W. (2014). Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches. Sage Publications.
• Farthing, G. (2016). Ethical issues in social research. Journal of Social Research, 12(3), 45-59.
• Mahoney, J. L., & Denham, S. A. (2020). Ethical considerations in human subjects research. Developmental Psychology, 56(2), 345-357.
• McLeod, S. (2018). Social research methods. Simply Psychology. https://www.simplypsychology.org/social-research-methods.html
• Robson, C. (2011). Real World Research. Wiley.
• Silverman, D. (2016). Interpreting Qualitative Data. Sage Publications.
• Yin, R. K. (2018). Case Study Research and Applications: Design and Methods. Sage Publications.
• Zimbardo, P. G., & Gerrig, R. J. (2017). Psychology and Life. Pearson.