Question 1

If a research participant is cognitively impaired, it is not necessary to seek their assent to participate in a research study.

Accepted Answer

Even if a research participant is cognitively impaired, it is still important to seek their assent to participate in a research study to ensure that they understand the purpose of the study, risks and benefits, and their role in the study. Alternative methods of obtaining assent may be necessary, such as obtaining assent from a legal guardian or using nonverbal cues to obtain assent from the participant.

Question 2

When is it possible that a program evaluation study may not need to be submitted to the IRB?
A)when there is no identifying health information collected as part of the study
B)when the agency is not receiving federal funds and does not intend to apply for federal funds within the next year
C)when an evaluation is conducted for the sole purpose of improving practices and operation
D)when the evaluators want to publish their results in a peer-reviewed journal
E)all problem evaluation studies must be submitted to the IRB

Accepted Answer

According to the Common Rule, program evaluation studies that are conducted solely for the purpose of improving practices and operations and do not contribute to generalizable knowledge do not require IRB review. Therefore, option C is correct. Option A is incorrect because the collection of identifying health information may still require IRB review. Option B is incorrect because federal funding is not the only criterion for IRB review. Option D is incorrect because the intent to publish in a peer-reviewed journal does not exempt a study from IRB review. Finally, option E is incorrect because program evaluation studies may be exempt from IRB review under certain circumstances.

Question 3

In order to meet IRB guidelines, respondents must always be allowed to remain anonymous.

Accepted Answer

While anonymity is often desirable, it is not always required by IRB guidelines. In some cases, such as when the study involves potential harm to the respondent or when identifying information is necessary to achieve research goals, anonymity may not be feasible or necessary. However, in these cases, researchers are required to take steps to protect the confidentiality of respondent information.

Question 4

Which of the following statements is true regarding the protection of sensitive information in research?
A)Anonymity means that the researcher will protect and not reveal the participant's identity, while confidentiality means that the research participant cannot be identified by anyone, including the researcher.
B)Anonymity is required to get approval from the IRB in social services research, but confidentiality is only required in medical research.
C)Confidentiality means that the researcher will protect and not reveal the participant's identity, while anonymity means that the research participant cannot be identified by anyone, including the researcher.
D)The participant forfeits their rights to anonymity and confidentiality upon the signing of the informed consent document.

Accepted Answer

Confidentiality means that the researcher will protect and not reveal the participant's identity, while anonymity means that the research participant cannot be identified by anyone, including the researcher. It is important to maintain both anonymity and confidentiality to protect the sensitive information of research participants. Anonymity is often used in survey research, and confidentiality is used in both medical and social services research. Participants do not forfeit their rights to anonymity and confidentiality upon signing the informed consent document, as these protections should still be maintained throughout the research process.

Question 5

You are hired as an external evaluator for a new, innovative therapeutic program for children with autism that has not yet been empirically tested.The program director tells you that five staff members will lose their jobs if the evaluation does not show the intervention to be effective, and that the parents will be so angry, they will never seek services at their agency again.You analyze the results and find that the children's symptoms did not improve after participating in the new program.What is the most ethical course of action?
A)Do not report the results correctly because you do not want the staff to lose their jobs in this tough economy.Contributing to workers losing their jobs would be unethical.
B)Indicate that the program was effective so that the families do not lose faith in the staff and the larger social service system, in general.Creating distrust in service delivery would be unethical.
C)Write the report with the correct results but write the limitation section so that it seems like the results are not very reliable in order to downplay the negative findings.
D)Write a draft of the report balancing the positive and negative aspects to show the program director before disseminating the final report to other stakeholders.

Accepted Answer

The best ethical course of action would be to write a draft of the report with both positive and negative aspects, showing it to the program director before disseminating the final report to other stakeholders. While it is important to be honest about the results of the evaluation, it is also important to communicate the findings in a way that does not cause unnecessary harm to the staff or agency. By presenting the director with a draft, they can provide feedback and potentially address any issues that may have contributed to the lack of improvement in the children's symptoms. Additionally, this approach allows for transparency and openness in the evaluation process, which is important for maintaining trust with stakeholders.

Question 6

Deception of research participants should not occur in any study.

Accepted Answer

Deception can be used in research under certain conditions, such as when it is necessary for the integrity of the study and when the potential benefits outweigh the risks. However, ethical guidelines require that participants be debriefed about the deception afterwards.

Question 7

Research participants must be fully informed about the processes of the research and must be allowed to end their participation in a study, if they choose, at any time without a penalty.This is an example of honoring what principle of social work?
A)beneficence
B)social justice
C)self-determination
D)service

Accepted Answer

This principle is known as the principle of self-determination, which emphasizes the importance of respect for individuals and their right to make their own choices and decisions. This principle is fundamental in social work research ethics and is essential in ensuring that participants have control over their own lives and experiences.

Question 8

Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) were mandated to be convened for all of the following reasons EXCEPT:
A)to oversee research in organizations receiving federal funds
B)to review research protocols especially related to recruiting participants
C)to determine if ethical guidelines are being followed
D)to provide funding for researchers to conduct program evaluation

Accepted Answer

IRBs are not responsible for providing funding for researchers to conduct program evaluation. Instead, IRBs are tasked with ensuring ethical guidelines are followed, reviewing research protocols related to recruiting participants, and overseeing research in organizations receiving federal funds.

Question 9

Which of the following is NOT a required section of an informed consent document?
A)the purpose of the study
B)the risks versus benefits of the study
C)how participants' confidentiality will be safeguarded
D)a review of the literature pertaining to the problem being studied

Accepted Answer

While a review of the literature may be included in the informed consent document, it is not a required section. The purpose of the study, the risks versus benefits, and confidentiality safeguards are all required sections.

Question 10

According to the National Commission for the Protection of Human Subjects in Biomedical and Behavioral Research (the Belmont Report, 1979), which of the following are the three ethical principles that must guide research involving humans?
A)beneficence, respect, justice
B)beneficence, informed consent, reciprocity
C)engagement, dignity and worth of the person, justice
D)solid theoretical foundation, evidence base, confidentiality

Accepted Answer

The Belmont Report outlines the three ethical principles as: beneficence (maximizing potential benefits and minimizing potential harms), respect for persons (treating individuals as autonomous and protecting those with diminished autonomy), and justice (ensuring fair distribution of research burdens and benefits). Option B is partially correct but misses out on the principle of justice, while options C and D are completely unrelated to the ethical principles outlined in the Belmont Report.

Question 11

Research conducted in an established educational setting involving normal educational practices such as comparing instructional techniques or classroom management styles and studies involving the study of existing data fall under what category according to the Department of Health and Human Services issued Federal Ruling 45 CFR 46?
A)expedited review
B)full review
C)exempt from review
D)risk vs benefit review

Accepted Answer

Research conducted in an established educational setting involving normal educational practices or studies involving the study of existing data are classified as exempt from review under the Department of Health and Human Services issued Federal Ruling 45 CFR 46. This means that such research does not require full review or expedited review by an institutional review board.

Question 12

Which of the following is a viable alternative for a researcher when needing an experimental group, but you do not want to deny clients access to a needed service?
A)provide services to clients that are an alternative form of those being evaluated
B)proceed with the same intervention for the second group and forego any chance of comparing two groups
C)provide extra compensation to those who have had to wait for services
D)all of the above are viable options for the researcher
E)none of the above are viable options for the researcher

Accepted Answer

Providing an alternative form of service allows the researcher to have an experimental group without denying clients access to a needed service. This alternative form of service can still be evaluated in comparison to the current service being provided. Providing extra compensation to those who have had to wait for services could create bias and may not be practical or ethical in all situations. Proceeding with the same intervention for the second group without a control group would not provide meaningful results for comparison.

Question 13

There is a section of the NASW Code of Ethics that addresses research and evaluation.

Accepted Answer

The NASW Code of Ethics does have a section on research and evaluation. This section outlines ethical considerations for social workers engaged in research and evaluation, including informed consent, confidentiality, and the use of appropriate research methods.

Question 14

If a researcher wants to conduct a study using incarcerated prisoners as research participants, the study must undergo full review including the presence of a prisoner or prisoner representative at the meeting.

Accepted Answer

This is true according to the standards set by the Department of Health and Human Services for research involving prisoners. The review process includes the presence of a prisoner or prisoner representative at the Institutional Review Board meeting.

Question 15

Which of the following is NOT a way to figure out the best solution when dealing with an ethical dilemma in research?
A)consult with your supervisors, colleagues and other professionals
B)look at the literature for examples of how other researchers handled
C)similar situations
D)consult applicable codes of ethics and apply those principles to the situation
E)temporarily suspend the study, debrief and provide compensation to the subjects

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following is NOT a...

Question 16

Minors (under age 18) can give informed consent to participate in research studies.

Accepted Answer

Minors (under age 18) generally cannot give informed consent due to their legal status; instead, a parent or legal guardian typically provides consent on their behalf, and the minor may give assent depending on their age and understanding.

Quiz 2: Ethical Issues in Program Evaluation

If a research participant is cognitively impaired, it is not necessary to seek their assent to participate in a research study.

When is it possible that a program evaluation study may not need to be submitted to the IRB?

In order to meet IRB guidelines, respondents must always be allowed to remain anonymous.

Which of the following statements is true regarding the protection of sensitive information in research?

Deception of research participants should not occur in any study.

Research participants must be fully informed about the processes of the research and must be allowed to end their participation in a study, if they choose, at any time without a penalty.This is an example of honoring what principle of social work?

Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) were mandated to be convened for all of the following reasons EXCEPT:

Which of the following is NOT a required section of an informed consent document?

According to the National Commission for the Protection of Human Subjects in Biomedical and Behavioral Research (the Belmont Report, 1979) , which of the following are the three ethical principles that must guide research involving humans?

Which of the following is a viable alternative for a researcher when needing an experimental group, but you do not want to deny clients access to a needed service?

There is a section of the NASW Code of Ethics that addresses research and evaluation.

If a researcher wants to conduct a study using incarcerated prisoners as research participants, the study must undergo full review including the presence of a prisoner or prisoner representative at the meeting.

Which of the following is NOT a way to figure out the best solution when dealing with an ethical dilemma in research?

Minors (under age 18) can give informed consent to participate in research studies.