Dafney Devis-Francillon Introduction to Experimental Psychology Week 1 Professor Jordan Vosmik 13/02/2022 Part 1 The topic I have chosen for my research is “False balance and its impact on the human brain.” The topic will explore the Pre-existing impressions, as well as the long-term effects of false balance on humans. Following are the research questions that I have designed to answer in my study. 1. What is the trigger point that boosts false balance? 2. How does false balance lead to confusion? 3. What is the relationship between false balance and misconception? 4. What are the long term effects of false balance? 5. How does false balance influence people's opinions? Part 2 There are multiple ethical issues that I have spotted in the given scenario. First, The very first ethical violation that Mark did was not including the IRB in his proposal. IRBs generally are driven by three ethical concepts which are critical to human body safeguarding while assessing investigations: integrity and respect, benevolence, and fairness. By ignoring the IRB, Mark already put his study in the circle of ethical violation. IRBs are responsible for ensuring that the study participants' wellbeing, safety, and confidentiality are protected. According to both existing legislation and regulatory requirements, IRBs get the right to accept, deny, supervise, as well as request revisions in any investigations that come under their control. So, It was very important for Mark to get IRB in consideration while making the proposal. Second, Mark did not debrief the participants about the study he was about to conduct. Debriefing plays a crucial ethical role by telling respondents about any deceit and the genuine aims of the research, enabling them to discontinue their involvement if they so wish after they have been properly educated. Also, Mark did not take any informed consent from the participants about the study in the start. He did not tell the participants that he was about to conduct, for example informing them that they have to eat disgusting food as a part of the study. I think one of the foundational concepts of ethical guidelines is informed consent. Its objective is for individual volunteers to engage experiment willingly after receiving clear knowledge on what it entails for any of them to participate as well as giving their agreement beforehand. If I were to re-design this study, The very first thing I would like to do is to add IRB in my proposal so that the study is examined closely for any ethical violation that might occur during the investigations. Secondly I will get the participants of the study to sign the informed consent that will have all the details of the investigation that will be performed.
