Sample SAQ
Describe one ethical consideration related to one research study at the
cognitive level of analysis.
What is the question asking you to do?
• Describe an ethical consideration
• Describe one study from the CLOA
• Make a link between the two.
One ethical consideration is the use of deception. Deception is when a
participant is not made fully aware of the purpose of a study or is
intentionally misinformed. Deception is often used by researchers to hide
the true aim of an experiment. Often if the participants knew the aim of
the experiment they would demonstrate demand characteristics – either
trying to give the researchers what they wanted or trying to behave in a
way that made them look their best, something known as social
desirability effect. Deception is problematic because it undermines the
concept of “informed consent.” It violates the trust between a researcher
and a participant. In addition, it increases the chance that a participant will
withdraw his/her data after the experiment. Therefore, debriefing is an
important part of any experiment with deception. It is important that the
deception be justified and that the participant be allowed to withdraw data.
In addition, debriefing is a chance for the researcher to make sure that
there was not harm done as a result of the deception.
A classic study that used deception was Loftus’s Lost in the Mall study.
The aim of the study was to see if participants would “create memories”
of a biographical event that never happened to them. Participants were
given four short stories describing childhood events, all supposedly
provided by family members, and asked them to try to recall them.
Relatives had provided the stories. One of the stories, describing a time
when the participant was lost in a mall when he/she as a child, was false.
In the study, 25% of the participants said that they remembered this event
even though it never actually occurred. They often described the event in
great detail.
Loftus concluded that being asked to recall something that didn’t happen,
but that they thought their parents said happened, can lead to the creation
of false memories.
Highlight the following:
1. Definition of the ethical issue
2. APFC of the relevant study
3. The link between the study and ethical issue
A psychologist wants to study the effect of loud
noise on a person’s ability to concentrate. In order to do
this, he blasts loud music through the participants’
earphones while they are trying to read a text.
The level of the noise could be a concern. The researcher needs
to make sure that the noise does not cause any damage. The
participants would also have to be informed of the nature of the
experiment before they begin. If they find it stressful, they have the
right to withdraw.
A criminal psychologist wants to carry out an
observation of how prostitutes convince someone to
have sex. He will do this by a covert observation, where
he poses as a person wanting her services.
Deception is a key problem here. He is dishonestly approaching
the prostitutes as if he were a customer. In addition, there is the
question of researching something that is "illegal." Prostitution is
many countries is illegal. So, the identities of the individuals must
be protected. Though, this raises the question about knowing that
someone is doing criminal activity but not turning them in.
A developmental psychologist wants to test the
problem solving abilities of elderly people residing in a
retirement home. He goes from room to room in the
center and asks them if they would be willing to do a
Suduko puzzle.
It appears that consent is being obtained, but the consent is not
really "informed." It is also questionable as to how healthy the
individuals are in this study. It would be a better study if the
participant worked together with the adminstration of the home in
order to gain participants. However, that consideration is not an
ethical consideration. Overall, there is nothing out of the norm here
for ethical considerations.
In order to determine the role of vasopressin, a
hormone, on the sexual behaviour of animals, DNA
which promotes the production of vasopressin is grafted
onto the DNA of animals that lack it.
Animal research in and of itself is not an ethical consideration - it is
a sampling consideration. However, in this case the researchers
are looking to permanently alter the physiology of the animals. This
could lead to irreperable harm. This is a serious ethical
consideration.
A researcher wants to carry out a series of
interviews with a group of Afghan War veterans to
assess the extent to which personal experience in the
war has affected their perception of the future.
There is nothing unethical about this study. The researchers would
have to gain informed consent, guarantee confidentiality of the
data and allow the participant the right to withdraw their data.
However, it would be important that the interviewers are carefully
trained as to not cause any undue stress for the veterans.
A psychologist hopes to explore the motivation of
students for academic dishonesty – for example,
plagiarism or cheating on an exam. In order to do this,
he hopes to obtain student records from the head of the
school.
This is a rather problematic study. Obtaining student records could
be considered unethical. Schools in different countries have
different laws about the release of school records. It is probable
that consent would have to be obtained from the families involved.
If not, then the data should be anonymized so that the identities of
the individuals are kept confidential.
A psychologist wants to study male sexuality with
a sample of university students. He is planning on using
a focus group in which they will discuss their earliest
sexual thoughts, and whether they have ever had
homosexual fantasies. In order to guarantee the
accuracy of the data, the focus group will be recorded.
This study is highly problematic. First, informed consent would
have to be obtained where the individuals were fully aware of the
topic of the focus group. Secondly, there would be the problem of
confidentiality. There is no real guarantee that information from the
interview won't be shared outside of the room by members of the
focus group. This is an ethical concern, but it may also mean that
no one wants to share openly in the group. Finally, the recording
the data is concerning. The data would have to be destroyed in
order to make sure that the confidentiality of the individuals is
protected.
A school psychologist wants to try out a new
approach to reading for 5-year-olds. The plan is to have
one class have this new special program and the other
class would continue with the former program. The goal
is to see if the group with the new program develops
higher reading skills than those without it.
Studies of this nature are always problematic. First, there is the
question of consent. Can the school give consent, or should the
parents of the children? Usually, it is the parents of the students
that most give consent for such types of experiments. Secondly, if
the new program actually helps the students, then the results
seem to justify the experiment. However, if they actually lead to a
decrease in ability, this could have a long-term and potentially
irreversible effect on the childrern's ability to read.
A child psychologist wants to test the effect of
television violence on children’s behaviour. She will
show a group of 6 year old children a movie in which a
murdered hunts down and kills small children. She will
then have the children work in pairs on a frustrating
puzzle to see if they exhibit any aggression toward each
other.
There are several considerations here. First, parental consent
would have to be obtained. Secondly, there is the question of
undue stress or harm caused by watching the films. The nature of
the films may lead to long-term nightmares or social-avoidant
behaviour. Finally, the goal is to induce aggression. There is a
question whether these behaviours would be reversible.
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