Question 1

Which best describes the use of vulnerable populations in research?

Accepted Answer

Vulnerable populations can be used in research, but only under strict guidelines to ensure that the potential benefits of the research outweigh potential risks or harms. These populations may include children, pregnant women, those with mental or physical disabilities, or those who are economically or socially disadvantaged. It is important to ensure that these populations are not exploited or put at undue risk, and that their rights and well-being are protected.

Question 2

Targeting studies toward _____ represents a violation of justice.

Accepted Answer

Targeting studies only toward children represents a violation of justice as it excludes other age groups and may not accurately represent the population as a whole. It is important for studies to be inclusive of all demographic groups in order to ensure fairness and equity in research findings.

Question 3

If a research question requires the researcher to induce stress in participants:

Accepted Answer

Researchers have a responsibility to ensure the well-being of their participants, even if inducing stress is necessary for the study. Therefore, they must return participants to the same or better physical and psychological state at the end of the study. This ensures that no harm is done and that the participants are not left with any lasting negative effects.

Question 4

Jessa is a health psychologist who is examining the impact of a medication on risk of heart attack.Approximately one year into her study she realizes that participants in her experimental condition are outliving participants in her control condition.Once she realizes that her treatment offers a life-sustaining benefit,what should she do?

Accepted Answer

Once it has been determined that the treatment offers a life-sustaining benefit, it would be unethical to withhold it from any participants in the study. Ending the study and administering the treatment to all participants would be the most ethical course of action.

Question 5

The greatest ethical cost of Milgram's classical work on obedience,in which participants were erroneously led to believe they were delivering harmful shocks to the confederate,is that it caused _____ to the participant.

Accepted Answer

Milgram's study caused significant psychological harm to the participants as they were led to believe they were seriously harming another person. Many experienced anxiety, stress, and depression as a result of their participation in the study. While physical harm was not inflicted, and there were no legal or economic consequences for the participants, the psychological harm is an important ethical consideration.

Question 6

Justice pertains to:

Accepted Answer

Justice refers to the fair selection of study participants, ensuring that vulnerable or disadvantaged populations are not overrepresented or excluded from research studies.

Question 7

Which of the following caused the most physical harm to participants?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following caused the most...

Question 8

Autonomy means:

Accepted Answer

Autonomy refers to the principle that individuals should be able to make their own decisions regarding their lives and healthcare. In the context of research, autonomy means that individuals must freely consent to participate in research with a full understanding of the risks and benefits involved. Therefore, option D is the best choice as it describes the principle of autonomy accurately.

Question 9

Imagine that you are a participant in a research study.Which of the following would you have the right to expect?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Imagine that you are a participant in...

Question 10

During the Tuskegee Syphilis Study,researchers never told the participants they had syphilis,nor did they treat any participants for their illness.In this example,the researchers ignored the cost of:

Accepted Answer

The answer of During the Tuskegee Syphilis Study,researchers never told...

Question 11

Zimbardo's Stanford Prison Study,in which participants acting as guards began to abuse other participants who were role-playing as prisoners,could not be replicated today,because it caused too much:

Accepted Answer

Zimbardo's Stanford Prison Study caused both physical and psychological harm to the participants, with some prisoners experiencing extreme emotional distress and some guards engaging in abusive behavior. Therefore, choice C best describes the type of harm that was caused by the study. While the study was conducted in a different time period, it is unlikely that it would be approved by an ethics committee today due to the potential harm that could result from such a study.

Question 12

After collecting the data for her thesis project,Rae places the master list of participants' names in a locked filing cabinet separate from where she keeps her data.Rae stores her information in this way to maintain:

Accepted Answer

By storing the master list of participants' names in a locked filing cabinet separate from the data, Rae is maintaining the confidentiality of her participants' identities. This is an important ethical consideration in research, as participants have the right to expect that their personal information will be kept private and not disclosed without their permission.

Question 13

Each of the following would be considered vulnerable populations,EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

While mental patients, prisoners, and children are considered vulnerable populations due to their limited ability to protect themselves or access resources, college students do not typically fall under this category. While college students may face unique challenges and stressors, they are not considered a vulnerable population in the same way that the other options are.

Question 14

Jasper has proposed a study in which best friends are led to believe that there are hurt feelings and unspoken animosity in the relationship.If you were evaluating his study for adherence to the ethical principle of beneficence,which would you be most concerned about?

Accepted Answer

The ethical principle of beneficence requires researchers to prioritize the well-being and welfare of participants, and to minimize the risk of harm. In this study, there is a potential for psychological harm to the participants, as they may experience stress, anxiety, and feelings of betrayal after believing that their close friend has been harboring negative feelings towards them. While economic and legal harm are also important considerations in research ethics, they are not as relevant in this specific scenario. Physical harm is not likely to occur in this study.

Question 15

Nabil is examining whether taking the medicine,Lactaid,will make people more tolerant of lactose in dairy products.In order to do this,he assigns the participants in the control condition to eat dairy,knowing that they will not receive medication to help their digestive systems handle the lactose.In this case,which of the following should be of greatest concern to Nabil?

Accepted Answer

The greatest concern for Nabil should be physical harm to participants who are not receiving medication to help them digest lactose. Consuming lactose without the ability to digest it can cause gastrointestinal symptoms such as bloating, gas, and diarrhea, which could be uncomfortable or even harmful for participants. It is important for Nabil to ensure that participants are aware of the potential risks and that they have the option to withdraw from the study if they experience any adverse reactions.

Question 16

When conducting a cost-benefit analysis,each of the following is a potential cost that must be considered,EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

Beneficence is not a cost, it is a principle to ensure that the benefits of the decision outweigh the costs. The other options, loss of confidentiality, physical harm, and psychological harm, are all potential costs that must be considered when conducting a cost-benefit analysis.

Question 17

Which of the following includes distress,concern,and lowered self-esteem?

Accepted Answer

Distress, concern, and lowered self-esteem are all characteristics of psychological harm, which can occur without any physical or economic harm. Legal harm refers to legal consequences or penalties, while physical harm involves bodily injury or damage. Economic harm refers to financial loss or damage.

Question 18

Random assignment of participants to conditions help to establish:

Accepted Answer

Random assignment helps to establish justice by ensuring that each participant has an equal chance of being assigned to any of the conditions, thus reducing the potential for bias or discrimination in the study. Beneficence, respect, and informed consent are important ethical considerations in research, but they are not directly related to random assignment.

Question 19

Which of the following is the hardest to recognize,given the personal and emotional nature of the impact?

Accepted Answer

Psychological harm is often the hardest to recognize as it involves emotional and personal impacts, which can vary greatly from person to person. Additionally, people may be hesitant to speak up about psychological harm they have experienced due to the stigma surrounding mental health issues. Physical, legal, and economic harms are more tangible and easier to quantify, making them easier to recognize and address.

Question 20

Which of the following is a cost of NOT conducting research?

Accepted Answer

Not conducting research can result in missing out on important information that could potentially improve the human condition. This can lead to missed opportunities for advancements in fields such as medicine, technology, and social sciences.

Quiz 3: B: Ethics: Making Ethical Decisions in Research