Ethics Flipped Video Notes for AP Psychology by Mandy Rice

Summary

This video provides an in-depth overview of ethical guidelines in psychological research, focusing on the principles set by the American Psychological Association (APA) and enforced by Institutional Review Boards (IRBs). Key topics include informed consent and assent for minors, limited deception with mandatory debriefing, protection from harm, confidentiality, and participants’ freedom to withdraw. The video also explains ethical considerations in animal research, emphasizing the ABCs—Appropriate, Beneficial, and Caring—and the role of Animal Care and Use Committees. Engaging examples illustrate these principles in action, making complex ethical standards clear and practical for students of AP Psychology.

Takeaways

• 😀 The American Psychological Association (APA) sets ethical guidelines for psychological research, established in 1953.
• 😀 Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) review and approve or reject research studies to ensure ethical compliance.
• 😀 Informed consent requires participants to be fully aware of the study and voluntarily agree to participate.
• 😀 Assent is a similar process to informed consent but is used for minors under 18, requiring ongoing agreement from the child.
• 😀 Limited deception is only allowed if necessary for the study, and participants must be fully debriefed afterward.
• 😀 Debriefing ensures participants leave the study in the same physical, emotional, and mental state as when they arrived.
• 😀 Researchers must protect participants from harm, minimizing both short-term and long-term risks or discomfort.
• 😀 Confidentiality is required to protect participants’ personal information and must be maintained in reporting results.
• 😀 Animal research is permitted when human research is impractical or unethical, but animals must be treated humanely.
• 😀 The ABCs of animal research (Appropriate, Beneficial, Caring) ensure ethical treatment and welfare during experiments.
• 😀 Oversight committees, such as IRBs for humans and Animal Care and Use Committees for animals, enforce ethical compliance.
• 😀 Ethical guidelines differ for humans and animals, emphasizing consent, safety, and care according to the type of research.

Q & A

Who determines whether psychological research practices are ethical?

The American Psychological Association (APA) sets ethical guidelines, and Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) review and approve research studies to ensure compliance.

What is informed consent, and why is it important?

Informed consent means participants are fully aware of the study's details and voluntarily agree to participate. It ensures participants understand risks, procedures, and their right to withdraw at any time.

What is the difference between consent and assent?

Consent is legally binding and used for adults, while assent is used for minors, requiring continuous agreement throughout the study since they cannot provide legal consent.

When is deception allowed in research, and how must it be handled?

Deception is allowed only when essential to the study. Researchers must reveal the deception during debriefing after the study ends.

What is debriefing, and what is its purpose?

Debriefing is a process at the end of a study where participants are informed of the true purpose and any deception. It ensures participants leave in the same physical, emotional, and mental state as when they arrived.

How must researchers protect participants from harm?

Researchers must minimize physical, emotional, or psychological risks and prevent any short-term or long-term negative consequences.

What is confidentiality in psychological research?

Confidentiality means personal information of participants must be kept private, and research results must not disclose individual identities.

Why do psychologists sometimes use animals instead of humans in research?

Animal research is used when studying human behavior would be impossible or unethical. It allows researchers to collect data while minimizing harm to humans.

What are the ABCs of laboratory animal research?

ABCs stand for Appropriate (no unnecessary harm), Beneficial (research must advance human knowledge), and Caring (ensuring the animals’ welfare during and between studies).

What committees oversee animal and human research, respectively?

Human research is overseen by Institutional Review Boards (IRBs), while animal research is overseen by Institutional Animal Care and Use Committees (IACUCs).

Can participants leave a research study at any time?

Yes, participants have the right to withdraw from the study at any point without any penalty or consequence.

What must be done if an animal is subjected to harm in research?

Harm is only allowed if necessary for human benefit, and research must be approved by the IACUC with strict guidelines for animal care and welfare.