Question 1

When determining whether a study should be conducted, we have to balance which two issues?
A) The costs of conducting the study vs. the benefits gained by the researcher
B) The type of people negatively affected vs. the type of people positively affected
C) The potential risks to participants vs. the value of knowledge we can gain
D) The number of people negatively affected vs. the number of people positively affected

Accepted Answer

When determining whether a study should be conducted, balancing the potential risks to participants with the value of knowledge we can gain is essential. It is important to ensure that the study is ethical and that the potential benefits outweigh the risks posed to the participants.

Question 2

In addition to the three principles derived from the Belmont Report, which of the following two principles were added in the principles put forth by the American Psychological Association?
A) The principle of consent and honesty
B) The principle of reliability and validity
C) The principle of honor and accountability/commitment
D) The principle of integrity and fidelity/responsibility

Accepted Answer

The principle of integrity and fidelity/responsibility were added in the principles put forth by the American Psychological Association.

Question 3

The need to balance the potential costs and benefits to participants taking part in a research study is done to address which principle of the Belmont Report?
A) The principle of respect for persons
B) The principle of justice
C) The principle of beneficence
D) The principle of integrity

Accepted Answer

The principle of beneficence states that research should maximize benefits to participants and minimize any potential harm or risks. Balancing potential costs and benefits is an important aspect of ensuring that the principle of beneficence is upheld in a study.

Question 4

Which of the following is true of students' views of deception and harm in research studies?
A) Students usually are tolerant of studies that use major deception.
B) Students are not tolerant of any degree of deception.
C) Students can find deception to be stressful.
D) Students find the negative effects of deception to be worsened by debriefing.

Accepted Answer

Studies have shown that students can find deception in research studies to be stressful, even when it is minor. Additionally, students can experience feelings of mistrust and discomfort when they learn they have been deceived in a study.

Question 5

Why is plagiarism a violation of ethics?
A) It violates an APA standard.
B) It violates a Belmont principle.
C) It is akin to lying.
D) It makes psychology researchers look bad.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Why is plagiarism a violation of ethics?
A)...

Question 6

In addition to being ethical violations, why are data falsification and fabrication problematic?
A) They are impossible to discover.
B) They impede scientific progress.
C) They are federal crimes.
D) Data are easy to acquire.

Accepted Answer

Data falsification and fabrication can impede scientific progress by leading other researchers down incorrect paths, wasting time and resources, and delaying the discovery of actual results. Additionally, it undermines the trust and credibility of the scientific community, leading to a breakdown in the peer review process and potentially harming public trust in science. While data falsification and fabrication can be difficult to detect, it is still possible for them to be discovered through replication studies, statistical analysis, and other methods. While they may also be considered federal crimes, the primary issue is their impact on the scientific process. Data acquisition is not relevant to the problematic nature of data falsification and fabrication.

Question 7

In which of the following ways is an institutional animal care and use committee (IACUC) different from an institutional review board (IRB)?
A) IACUCs are optional at universities conducting animal research; IRBs are mandatory at universities conducting human research.
B) Seeking permission from an IACUC is recommended but not required for animal research; IRB approval is required for human research.
C) IACUCs monitor the care and treatment of animals throughout the study; IRBs do not monitor the care of human participants throughout the study.
D) IRBs must follow federal guidelines, but IACUCs do not have federal guidelines to follow.

Accepted Answer

IACUCs specifically monitor the care and treatment of animals throughout the study, whereas IRBs primarily focus on the protection of human participants in research. Both IACUCs and IRBs are mandatory at research institutions and must follow federal guidelines. Seeking permission from an IACUC is required for animal research, just as IRB approval is required for human research.

Question 8

Which of the following is NOT a suitable reason for using debriefing in a study?
A) It prevents researchers from being sued.
B) It allows researchers to make research an educational experience.
C) It gives participants insight into the nature of psychological science.
D) It informs participants about the presence and purpose of deception in a study.

Accepted Answer

Debriefing is not primarily used to prevent researchers from being sued. While it may have a secondary benefit of protecting researchers legally, the primary purpose of debriefing is to provide participants with information and insight about the study they participated in.

Question 9

A local committee that reviews research that is conducted on animals is known as .
A) an IACUC
B) an AIRB
C) an AWA
D) an IRB

Accepted Answer

An IACUC, or Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, is responsible for reviewing and approving research proposals that involve the use of animals. Option B, an AIRB, is not a commonly used acronym in this context. Option C, an AWA, refers to the Animal Welfare Act, which is federal legislation related to the use of animals in research, but it does not refer specifically to a review committee. Option D, an IRB, is an Institutional Review Board, which is a committee responsible for reviewing and approving research proposals involving human subjects.

Question 10

When conducting animal research, which guideline states that alternatives to animal research should be considered?
A) Refinement
B) Reduction
C) Replacement
D) Recycling

Accepted Answer

The principle of Replacement specifically states that alternatives to animal research should be considered whenever possible.

Question 11

Which of the following studies would probably require written informed consent?
A) An observational study that measures walking speed of people entering and exiting buildings
B) An anonymous study that measures the relationship between time spent grocery shopping and money spent on groceries
C) A confidential study examining income level and voting behavior
D) An anonymous survey asking whether students want a coffeehouse opened in the library

Accepted Answer

A confidential study examining income level and voting behavior would require written informed consent in order to protect the privacy of the participants and ensure that they are aware of their rights as research subjects. The other studies either involve anonymous data collection or do not involve any potentially sensitive or invasive topics.

Question 12

What is the difference between data that is collected anonymously and data that is collected confidentially?
A) Confidential research collects participants' names but separates them from the data; anonymous research does not collect participants' names.
B) Anonymous research collects sensitive information about participants (e.g., sexual behavior, illegal behavior); confidential research collects nonsensitive information about participants.
C) Confidential research collects sensitive information about participants (e.g., sexual behavior, illegal behavior); anonymous research collects nonsensitive information about participants.
D) Anonymous research and confidential research are the same thing.

Accepted Answer

Confidential research involves collecting participants' names but ensures that these names are kept separate from the data to protect their identity, whereas anonymous research does not collect participants' names at all, ensuring that the data cannot be linked back to them.

Question 13

The American Psychological Association's ethical guidelines have principles and standards.
A) 3; 10
B) 3; 8
C) 3; 5
D) 5; 10

Accepted Answer

The American Psychological Association's ethical guidelines consist of five general principles and ten specific ethical standards. These principles and standards guide psychologists in professional conduct.

Question 14

Ethical decision making done by researchers can change in response to all of the following EXCEPT:
A) bad experiences of other researchers.
B) the possibility of additional grant funding.
C) changing social norms.
D) scientific discoveries.

Accepted Answer

Ethical decision making should not be influenced by the possibility of additional grant funding. All other options (A, C, and D) can potentially impact ethical decision making.

Question 15

The use of debriefing in a study such as Milgram's obedience study appeals to which principle of the Belmont Report?
A) Principle of beneficence
B) Principle of integrity
C) Principle of respect for persons
D) Principle of justice

Accepted Answer

The principle of beneficence emphasizes the importance of minimizing harm and maximizing potential benefits to participants in a study. Debriefing, which involves explaining the true nature and purpose of the study and addressing any emotional responses or concerns the participant may have, helps to minimize any potential harm caused by participation and ensures that the study is conducted in an ethical and responsible manner.

Question 16

All of the following are true of institutional review boards (IRBs) in the United States EXCEPT:
A) IRBs can be found in settings other than colleges and universities.
B) IRBs are mandated by federal law.
C) IRBs must have a psychologist as a member.
D) IRBs must have at least five members.

Accepted Answer

There is no requirement for IRBs to have a psychologist as a member. However, they must have members with varying backgrounds and expertise to ensure comprehensive review of research proposals.

Question 17

Which of the following has been used as a defense of animal research by animal researchers?
A) Animal research has resulted in many benefits to both animals and humans.
B) Animal research requires less research funding than human research.
C) Animal research is less likely to result in physical harm to the subject compared to human research.
D) Animal research has not had the same types of scandals that human research has had (e.g., the Tuskegee Study).

Accepted Answer

This defense is often used by animal researchers to argue that the benefits of animal research outweigh the ethical concerns raised by critics. Examples of such benefits include the development of drugs and vaccines, improved surgical procedures, and greater understanding of disease mechanisms.

Question 18

Which of the following is NOT a reason that psychologists might fabricate or falsify their data?
A) They feel pressure to publish findings.
B) They are convinced of the correctness of their own hypotheses.
C) Research success has implications for promotion within their department.
D) A journal might require it.

Accepted Answer

Journals do not require or condone the fabrication or falsification of data. This behavior is unethical and can lead to severe consequences for the researcher and the scientific community. The other choices (A, B, and C) are reasons that could potentially motivate a psychologist to fabricate or falsify their data.

Question 19

The belief that the participants in a research study should be representative of the type of people who would also benefit from the findings of the research stems from which principle of the Belmont Report?
A) The principle of justice
B) The principle of respect for persons
C) The principle of beneficence
D) The principle of integrity

Accepted Answer

The principle of justice requires that the selection of participants in a research study be fair, with a goal to avoid exploitation and ensure that burdens and benefits are fairly distributed. This principle supports the belief that participants in a research study should be representative of the type of people who would also benefit from the findings of the research.

Question 20

An in-person institutional review board (IRB) meeting would probably be required for all of the following studies EXCEPT:
A) an anonymous survey asking whether students want the campus mascot to be changed.
B) an anonymous study looking at gang behavior in recent parolees.
C) a confidential study examining eating patterns in newborns.
D) a confidential survey examining sexual behavior in mentally handicapped individuals.

Accepted Answer

An anonymous survey requesting an opinion about the campus mascot is not likely to require an IRB review. However, all of the other studies listed involve human subjects and would require review by an IRB, regardless of whether they are anonymous, confidential, or involve potentially vulnerable populations.

Quiz 4: Ethical Guidelines for Psychology Research

When determining whether a study should be conducted, we have to balance which two issues?

In addition to the three principles derived from the Belmont Report, which of the following two principles were added in the principles put forth by the American Psychological Association?

The need to balance the potential costs and benefits to participants taking part in a research study is done to address which principle of the Belmont Report?

Which of the following is true of students' views of deception and harm in research studies?

Why is plagiarism a violation of ethics?

In addition to being ethical violations, why are data falsification and fabrication problematic?

In which of the following ways is an institutional animal care and use committee (IACUC) different from an institutional review board (IRB) ?

Which of the following is NOT a suitable reason for using debriefing in a study?

A local committee that reviews research that is conducted on animals is known as .

When conducting animal research, which guideline states that alternatives to animal research should be considered?

Which of the following studies would probably require written informed consent?

What is the difference between data that is collected anonymously and data that is collected confidentially?

The American Psychological Association's ethical guidelines have principles and standards.

Ethical decision making done by researchers can change in response to all of the following EXCEPT:

The use of debriefing in a study such as Milgram's obedience study appeals to which principle of the Belmont Report?

All of the following are true of institutional review boards (IRBs) in the United States EXCEPT:

Which of the following has been used as a defense of animal research by animal researchers?

Which of the following is NOT a reason that psychologists might fabricate or falsify their data?

The belief that the participants in a research study should be representative of the type of people who would also benefit from the findings of the research stems from which principle of the Belmont Report?

An in-person institutional review board (IRB) meeting would probably be required for all of the following studies EXCEPT: