ETHICS

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ETHICS

• American Psychological Association

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Whats the APA?

• Based in Washington, DC, the American
  Psychological Association (APA) is a scientific
  and professional organization that represents
  psychology in the United States. With 150,000
  members, APA is the largest association of
  psychologists worldwide.
• The objects of the American Psychological
  Association shall be to advance psychology as a
  science and profession and as a means of
  promoting health, education, and human welfare
• ( From http//www.apa.org/about/)

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Academic Research

• Academic research must be approved by an IRB
  (Institutional Review Board)
• The IRB looks for ethical code violations. The
  IRB can approve the research procedures or ask
  the researchers to revise the procedures to meet
  requirements.
• Should psychological research be filtered through
  an academic checkpoint? Why?

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Is it ethical to conduct psychological research
using animal subjects?

• Issue Compassion for animals vs. Compassion for
  people?
• Study of rabies caused some dogs to suffer but
  this research led to saving millions of animals
  and humans. Is it worth it?
• Is it right to place the well-being of humans
  above the well-being of animals?
• Should we expose monkeys to the AIDS virus in
  hopes to find an AIDS vaccine?
• Examples of permitting the sacrifice of animals
  for the sake of humans
• Eat a hamburger, own a leather wallet/purse,
  believe that it is ok to kill pests that destroy
  crops, set a mouse trap in your home, support
  hunting

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APA Guidelines for Animal Research

• Must have a clear scientific purpose
• Must care for and house animals in a humane way
• Acquire animals legally.
• Design procedures that employ the least amount of
  suffering possible.

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Is it ethical to conduct psychological research
using human subjects?

• Human Research guidelines
• (according to the APA)
• 1. Informed consent
• 2. Voluntary participation (no coercion)
• 3. Anonymity or Confidentiality
• 4. Participants cannot be placed at great mental
  or physical risk.
• Stanley Milgrams obedience studies in 1970s.
• 5. Debriefing required