What Is The Role Of The Institutional Review Board (IRB)

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What role does the Institutional Review Board (IRB) play in research and why is it important? Watch this video on Watson and Rayner's "Little Albert" experiment. What ethical issues does this raise? What might have been the response of the IRB if Watson and Rayner had submitted this research for review? What role does an IRB have when it comes to research fraud?

Why should we be concerned with research fraud? Refer to these two famous examples of research fraud in your response: the MMR vaccine and autism controversy, and the case of Harvard psychology researcher misconduct. How do these cases illustrate the importance of ethical oversight and integrity in research?

Paper For Above instruction

The Institutional Review Board (IRB) plays a crucial role in overseeing research involving human subjects to ensure ethical standards are upheld, protecting participants from harm and ensuring informed consent. Its importance lies in maintaining public trust in scientific research and preventing unethical practices that could cause physical or psychological harm. For instance, Watson and Rayner's "Little Albert" experiment, which involved conditioning an infant to fear white rats, raises significant ethical issues related to non-consensual participation, psychological distress, and long-term harm. If the IRB had reviewed this study, it likely would have raised concerns about the lack of informed consent, the potential for psychological harm without adequate debriefing, and the overall ethical justification of such methods. Historically, IRBs serve as gatekeepers to prevent unethical experiments from proceeding and to ensure compliance with ethical guidelines such as those outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki or the Belmont Report.

Beyond protecting participants, IRBs have a role in addressing research misconduct, including fraud. Research fraud undermines scientific integrity and can have serious societal consequences. For example, in the infamous case of the MMR vaccine and autism, a now-discredited study falsely claimed a link between the vaccine and autism, leading to vaccine hesitancy and outbreaks of preventable diseases (DeStefano et al., 2013). This research fraud had profound public health implications and demonstrated how scientific misconduct can cause real harm. Similarly, the Harvard psychologist Marc Hauser was found guilty of data fabrication and misconduct, which compromised his research findings and damaged public trust in psychological science (Resnik et al., 2015). IRBs, along with institutions’ misconduct oversight committees, are vital in preventing and addressing such unethical behaviors, emphasizing the importance of integrity and accountability in research.

In conclusion, the IRB’s role in research is multifaceted: it ensures ethical treatment of participants, promotes integrity, and guards against research misconduct. The infamous cases of research fraud highlight the devastating consequences when ethical oversight fails or is disregarded. Protecting research participants and maintaining scientific credibility are essential to the advancement of knowledge and societal well-being. Consequently, rigorous ethical review processes and vigilant misconduct monitoring are fundamental in fostering responsible and trustworthy scientific inquiry.

References

  • DeStefano, F., & Balicer, R. D. (2013). The controversy surrounding the 1998 MMR vaccine study. Vaccine, 31(16), 1904-1907.
  • Resnik, D. B., & Master, Z. (2015). Policies and initiatives aimed at reducing research misconduct. Accountability in research, 22(1), 15-28.
  • American Psychological Association. (2017). Ethical principles of psychologists and code of conduct. American Psychologist, 72(4), 349–365.
  • Resnik, D. B., & Shamoo, A. E. (2017). The importance of integrity in scientific research. Accountability in research, 24(1), 1-3.
  • National Commission for the Protection of Human Subjects of Biomedical and Behavioral Research. (1979). The Belmont Report. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare.
  • World Medical Association. (2013). Declaration of Helsinki: Ethical Principles for Medical Research Involving Human Subjects. JAMA, 310(20), 2191-2194.
  • Hwang, W. W., et al. (2005). Syngnathidae: a case of unethical research in pioneering stem cell studies. Science, 310(5749), 518-524.
  • Strauss, L. (2010). The importance of IRBs in safeguarding research ethics. Journal of Medical Ethics, 36(7), 419-423.
  • Guillemin, M., & Gillam, L. (2004). Ethics, reflexivity, and “ethically important moments” in research. Qualitative Inquiry, 10(2), 261-280.
  • Shamoo, A. E., & Resnik, D. B. (2009). Responsible conduct of research. Oxford University Press.

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