Deck 11: Ethical Issues in Psychological Research

Question 1

1) De-briefing occurs when:

A) A researcher informs the participant about exactly what is going to happen in an experiment
B) A researcher gives some information to the participant about what is going to happen in an experiment
C) A researcher gives some information to the participant about what was going on in an experiment
D) A researcher gives full information to the participant about what was going on in an experiment

Answer 1

D

Question 2

2) When a researcher is uncertain about the ethical acceptability of certain procedures one of the things he or she should do is:

A) Go ahead trusting their own professional training
B) After the procedure has been carried out ask a few participants whether they thought this was acceptable
C) Consult, and take the advice of, disinterested colleagues
D) Consult students and listen to their views

Answer 2

C

Question 3

3) If, during an experiment, a participant expresses discomfort and wishes to leave the researcher should:

A) Permit the participant to leave once they have finished any procedure or trial that they are in the middle of
B) Permit the participant to leave immediately and offer a debrief
C) Try to persuade the participant to carry on with assurances that nothing bad can actually happen to them
D) Permit the participant to leave after warning them that the research will be harmed by their withdrawal

Answer 3

B

Question 4

4) A researcher wishes to publish the results of some qualitative research into a sensitive topic, which includes lengthy direct quotations from interviewed research participants who all know one another. The most appropriate action is to:

A) Go ahead and publish as the data belong to the research team and the participants consented to be interviewed
B) Publish the results anonymously with fake names
C) Tell participants what it is intended to publish and ask for their consent
D) Ask participants to identify any passages they would not want published

Question 5

5) A participant is particularly disturbed by what they feel they have discovered about their personality during a research study. In addition, they scored extremely high on a depression measure. The researcher should:

A) Have a quick chat and reassure the participant that they do not have any particular problems
B) Arrange to meet the participant for a full discussion of their fears
C) Offer the participant full counselling with a trained professional
D) Ignore the issue since the participant volunteered to take part in the study

Question 6

6) The scientific community operates according to some basic and central principles in conducting research. Of the following, regarding data sharing, which is the most appropriate?

A) Data from any study should be shared at least with the research team
B) Data from any study should be accessible to researchers in the same research centre whilst preserving the anonymity of research participants
C) Data from any study should be available to any bona fide researcher on request
D) Data from any study should be available to any bona fide researcher on request whilst preserving the anonymity of participants

Question 7

7) Psychologists need to exercise integrity concerning:

A) The principles of the publications in which they publish
B) The sources of funding for research projects
C) Adherence in practice to the principles of the organisation of professional psychologists to which they belong
D) All of the above

Question 8

8) Which of the following is an ethical procedure?

A) Anonymity
B) Confidentiality
C) Involuntary participation
D) Debriefing

Question 9

9) A researcher is making initial investigations into the phenomenon of 'weapons focus' in eyewitness testimony and arranges for a person to walk into a lecture room full of students, approach the lecturer and then pull out a gun. In a control condition the intruder holds a banana. Which of the following sets of ethical issues most strongly applies?

A) Anonymity, confidentiality and avoidance of physical harm
B) Anonymity, lack of informed consent and avoidance of physical harm
C) Confidentiality, debriefing and avoidance of physical harm
D) Lack of informed consent, involuntary participation and avoidance of mental harm

Question 10

10) A researcher tells participants that they will either consume a certain level of caffeine (taken as tablets) or a control substance. Willing participants then complete a memory task. A blind procedure is employed so that participants do not know, when undergoing the experiment, which condition they are in. After the trials the researcher tells participants all about the study and its aims. Which of the following ethical issues most strongly applies?

A) Involuntary participation
B) Lack of informed consent
C) Avoidance of physical harm
D) Lack of full debriefing