Question 1

Kitchener and Anderson (2011) suggested nine principles for responding to ethical dilemmas faced by a researcher. One of the principles states that:

Accepted Answer

This principle emphasizes the importance of taking the time to carefully consider ethical dilemmas and make a thoughtful decision. It is important for researchers to avoid responding impulsively or simply relying on past practices without analyzing the specific situation at hand.

Question 2

Researchers are not obliged to provide treatment to the participants placed in the delayed-treatment group.

Accepted Answer

False

Question 3

Which of the following is recommended while assigning publication credits for the contributions to a research project?

Accepted Answer

The most commonly followed practice is to assign authorship based on the decreasing order of scholarly contributions. This method acknowledges the contributions of all the researchers involved in the research, irrespective of their seniority or role in the project. The first author is generally the primary contributor, and the rest of the authors are listed in decreasing order of their contributions. This approach ensures transparency, fairness, and accuracy in assigning credits.

Question 4

The fundamental ethical principle of justice states that all people, irrespective of their differences, should be treated equally.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The fundamental ethical principle of justice states...

Question 5

Which of the following is true of the guidelines by American Psychological Association (APA) Ethics Committee (1983) for dissertations?

Accepted Answer

The APA guidelines suggest that second authorship may be considered obligatory if a supervisor makes significant contributions such as designating primary variables, making major interpretative contributions, or providing the database.

Question 6

In context of the issue of confidentiality, if someone other than the experimenter will have access to data, this should be explained to the participants along with plans for maintaining confidentiality.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. It is important to inform participants if anyone other than the experimenter will have access to their data and to explain how confidentiality will be maintained. This helps to ensure informed consent and protect the privacy of participants.

Question 7

When reporting results, it is a researcher's responsibility to:

Accepted Answer

It is the researcher's responsibility to report findings and present them in a way that is clear and understandable to readers. This helps to ensure that the information is accessible and can be used to inform decision-making. It is also important to avoid filtering out results simply because they do not support a particular theory or hypothesis. Instead, all results should be reported and interpreted objectively. While acknowledging contributions of all people involved in a study is important, it is not strictly necessary when reporting results. Similarly, while reducing bias is important, simply presenting the facts and leaving interpretation to stakeholders may not be helpful in ensuring accurate understanding and use of the information.

Question 8

The effectiveness of debriefing may vary with each study or experimenter.

Accepted Answer

The effectiveness of debriefing may vary depending on factors such as the study design, the experience and skill level of the experimenter, and the participants' individual differences. Therefore, the effectiveness of debriefing cannot be generalized across all studies or experimenters.

Question 9

A researcher's idea developed from a blend of pre-existing ideas can be considered genuine.

Accepted Answer

A researcher's idea developed from a blend of pre-existing ideas cannot be considered genuine because it is not original.

Question 10

Identify an element that needs to be stated in a written consent form to document the informed agreement of a participant for a study.

Accepted Answer

A statement indicating voluntary participation and the option of discontinuation without penalty is a crucial element in a written consent form to document the informed agreement of a participant for a study. This ensures that the participant is aware of their right to withdraw from the study at any time without any adverse consequences. Other options are incorrect as they are not relevant to the participant's informed consent for a study.

Question 11

Nonmaleficence, one of the five fundamental ethical principles, states that researchers:

Accepted Answer

Nonmaleficence refers to the ethical principle that researchers should avoid causing harm or inflicting intentional harm to their research participants. This principle emphasizes that researchers must be mindful of any potential risks their study may pose to participants and take necessary steps to prevent harm. Additionally, researchers should take steps to minimize any potential risks to society that could arise from their study.

Question 12

Even if a researcher employs other individuals, such as research assistants, the primary researcher is ultimately responsible for the execution of a research study.

Accepted Answer

The primary researcher is ultimately responsible for the conduct and execution of a research study, even if they employ other individuals such as research assistants.

Question 13

All the fundamental ethical principles that form the core of counseling profession have undergone transformations with continual changes based on new developments in society and advancements in collective ethical knowledge.

Accepted Answer

While ethical principles in counseling may evolve over time, the core principles such as autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, justice, and fidelity remain largely consistent, adapting only to address new societal contexts and challenges.

Question 14

During the resolution of an ethical dilemma in counseling research, a counselor should document the entire decision-making process.

Accepted Answer

Documenting the entire decision-making process is an important part of ethical practice in counseling research, as it helps to ensure transparency and accountability in how ethical dilemmas are resolved. By documenting the various factors that were considered, the rationale for the decision, and any follow-up actions taken, counselors can demonstrate their commitment to ethical principles and their ability to navigate complex ethical situations in a responsible and effective manner.

Question 15

Which of the following courses of action is recommended in order to assess and weigh the risk/benefit ratio of a study?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following courses of action...

Question 16

Researchers are exempted from the need to document consent of the participants when they are observing public behavior.

Accepted Answer

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, researchers do not need to document consent of participants when they are observing public behavior because there is no reasonable expectation of privacy in public settings. However, if the observation takes place in a location where people might have a reasonable expectation of privacy (such as restrooms or private homes), then consent must be obtained.

Question 17

Counselors have a responsibility to conduct research that contributes to welfare for their clients. This statement corresponds to the ethical principle of _____.

Accepted Answer

The ethical principle of beneficence requires counselors to act in the best interest of their clients and promote their welfare. Conducting research that contributes to clients' welfare is a way counselors can fulfill this responsibility. Nonmaleficence refers to the duty to do no harm to clients, fidelity refers to the obligation to be trustworthy and maintain professional boundaries, and justice requires counselors to treat clients fairly and advocate for systemic changes to address social injustices. While all of these principles are important for ethical practice, the specific responsibility described in the prompt corresponds most closely with the principle of beneficence.

Question 18

Which of the following statements is true of duplicate publications?

Accepted Answer

Multiple publications reporting the same findings based on the same data set may give an impression of availability of more information on a particular topic than is warranted. Duplicate publications are not always synonymous with piecemeal publications, as the latter may involve reporting different aspects of the same study. Similar questions getting addressed with the same data are not necessarily acceptable, as this can still be seen as duplication. The amount of time elapsed between multiple reports on the same data set may be a factor in determining acceptability, but it is not the only factor.

Question 19

A counselor conducts a study in her private practice. She offers free counseling services to 25 of her clients who agree to participate in the study. However, after 8 weeks of multiple free counseling sessions for each of the participants in the study, she realized that she could no longer financially afford it. Hence she asks all her clients, regardless of study participation, to resume payment for services offered. Which of the following ethical principles did the counselor transgress in this scenario?

Accepted Answer

The counselor transgressed the ethical principle of fidelity by not fulfilling her promise to provide free counseling services for the duration of the study to the 25 clients who agreed to participate. They may have continued participation based on this promise, and the counselor's failure to fulfill it could harm the trust and rapport between them.

Question 20

In context of the use of deception in psychological studies, greater consideration should be given to the acts of omission than to the acts of commission.

Accepted Answer

Acts of commission (actively misleading participants) and acts of omission (withholding information) both raise ethical concerns in psychological studies, and both require careful consideration to ensure the protection of participants' rights and well-being. Neither can be deemed categorically more important than the other; the context and potential impact on participants are crucial factors in evaluating the ethical implications of each.

Quiz 3: Ethics in Counseling Research: Being and Doing Right