Question 1

Suppose that immediately after participating in a psychological study,you are dismissed without any interaction with the experimenter or a representative.What element of ethical psychology research has probably been excluded?

Accepted Answer

Debriefing is the process of informing participants about the true nature of the study after their participation has ended. It allows participants to receive closure and ask any questions they may have had about the study. In this scenario, the participant was dismissed without any interaction, indicating that debriefing was not conducted.

Question 2

Prior to participation in a psychological study at your college,you are given information that clarifies the obligations and responsibilities of both you and the researcher in the study.This fulfills the ethical requirement that all psychological studies include ____.

Accepted Answer

Informed consent is the ethical requirement that participants are given information regarding the study, its risks and benefits, and their obligations as participants. This allows them to make an informed decision about whether or not to participate, and demonstrates that they have given their consent to do so. Debriefing, confidentiality, and complete disclosure of any deception are also important ethical considerations, but they are not the specific requirement that addresses the relationship between the researcher and the participant prior to the study.

Question 3

In research,what is a fundamental principle of ethical practice?

Accepted Answer

Informed consent is a fundamental principle of ethical practice in research, which means that participants should be fully informed about the nature and purpose of the study, its potential risks and benefits, and their right to withdraw at any time without penalty. This helps to ensure that participants are willing and able to make autonomous and informed decisions about their participation. The other options (A, B, and C) are also important ethical considerations in research, but they are not the fundamental principle.

Question 4

Wundt attempted to detail the ____.

Accepted Answer

Wundt focused on the structure of our mental experiences, particularly through introspection, in order to understand the elements of conscious experience.

Question 5

The first American woman to earn a doctorate in psychology was ____.

Accepted Answer

Margaret Washburn was the first American woman to earn a doctorate in psychology from Cornell University in 1894.

Question 6

Debriefing is ____.

Accepted Answer

Debriefing is the process of fully disclosing the true purposes and nature of a psychological study to the participants, after they have completed their involvement in the study. This is done to ensure the participants fully understand what has happened during the study, and to address any potential negative effects the study may have had on the participants. Options A, C, and D are not correct definitions of debriefing.

Question 7

Which statement is true about animal research and our understanding of psychological issues?

Accepted Answer

Animal research has informed our understanding of psychological issues, as researchers have been able to study behaviors and brain processes in animals that have similarities to those in humans. However, ethical guidelines are in place to ensure that the animals are treated humanely and their welfare is prioritized.

Question 8

The name most associated with the founding of the first psychology laboratory is ____.

Accepted Answer

Wilhelm Wundt is often referred to as the founder of modern psychology and he established the first psychology laboratory at the University of Leipzig in Germany in 1879.

Question 9

Lamont is a researcher at a university,who wants to do a study to determine if alcohol use predicts motor skill performance in college students.Before conducting this study,Lamont should have his study approved by the ____.

Accepted Answer

The institutional review board (IRB) at Lamont's school is responsible for reviewing and approving studies involving human subjects to ensure that they are ethically sound and adhere to established guidelines. This is necessary to protect the rights, safety, and well-being of participants. The faculty senate, student government association, and the company making the drink used in the study are not relevant entities in this case.

Question 10

Assuming that Stanley Milgram's obedience study was not ethical by today's standards,at what point in the procedures established to ensure appropriate ethics would his study have been discontinued?

Accepted Answer

The Institutional Review Board (IRB) is responsible for reviewing research proposals to ensure that they adhere to ethical principles and protect the rights and welfare of participants. Milgram's study did not undergo the type of review process that would take place today, but if it had, the IRB would likely have identified significant ethical concerns and would have required modifications to the study or possibly even disapproval. Therefore, if the study had undergone review by the IRB, it would have been discontinued at that point.

Question 11

Psychology is traditionally believed to have begun as a separate field of study in ____.

Accepted Answer

Psychology is traditionally believed to have begun as a separate field of study in 1879 when Wilhelm Wundt established the first psychological laboratory at the University of Leipzig in Germany.

Question 12

Dr.Honani is studying conceptual learning among monkeys.What ethical obligations does he have towards these primates?

Accepted Answer

Dr. Honani has ethical obligations towards the primates to ensure their physical and psychological well-being during the research process. This includes providing adequate living conditions, proper nutrition, and minimizing any pain or distress caused by the study. Informed consent is not applicable as primates cannot provide such consent, and there are ethical standards provided by both the APA and the federal government for animal research.

Question 13

When may research participants withdraw from a study?

Accepted Answer

Research participants have the right to withdraw from a study at any time, for any reason, without penalty. It is important for researchers to inform participants of this right during the informed consent process. Participants should not be pressured to continue in a study if they wish to withdraw.

Question 14

Bea is a researcher working in the area of human sexuality.She conducts a survey to determine how often the average person has sex.In doing this survey,Bea does not have her participants put their name on the survey.Rather,she assigns each participant a number.In doing this,Bea is upholding the ethical rule which states that participants have a right to ____.

Accepted Answer

By assigning each participant a number instead of having them put their name on the survey, Bea is ensuring their confidentiality. This is important because it protects their privacy and allows them to feel comfortable being honest in their responses without fear of being identified.

Question 15

What is meant by the phrase,"Psychology has a long past,but a short history"?

Accepted Answer

This phrase suggests that although attempts to understand behavior can be traced back throughout history, psychology as a modern scientific discipline has only been around for a relatively short period of time. This highlights the fact that psychology has rapidly evolved over the past century or so, with major changes occurring in how it is studied and approached.

Question 16

LaDonna is a researcher who studies the behavior of rats.LaDonna ____.

Accepted Answer

Regardless of the subject being studied, all researchers must follow ethical guidelines set forth by the American Psychological Association and federal government. This includes obtaining informed consent, minimizing harm to participants, and maintaining confidentiality.

Question 17

In the past,how might the involvement of women and minorities in psychological research be best characterized?

Accepted Answer

Historically, women and minorities were largely excluded from participation in psychological research. This led to a lack of understanding about the unique experiences and perspectives of these groups. Only in recent decades has there been a concerted effort to increase diversity and representativeness in research samples.

Question 18

Which statement is TRUE regarding the use of deception in psychological research?

Accepted Answer

Deception is allowed in psychological research as long as it is justifiable and participants are debriefed appropriately. This means that researchers must have a valid reason for using deception and must inform participants of the deception after the study is complete. Participants should be given a detailed explanation of why deception was necessary and any potential negative consequences that may have resulted from it. This approach ensures that participants are fully informed and can make an informed decision about whether or not to participate in the study.

Question 19

What is a responsibility of a researcher who conducts psychological studies on animals?

Accepted Answer

A responsibility of a researcher who conducts psychological studies on animals is to justify the painful procedures used on the animals. This includes explaining the potential benefits of the research and why the use of animals is necessary. Animal care and welfare is also important, but allowing regular inspection by animal rights groups or training the animals for a new home may not be relevant to the research being conducted. While it is good practice to consider the potential rehoming of animals once the research is complete, it is not always feasible or necessary.

Question 20

Which organization establishes the ethical guidelines for research conducted by psychologists?

Accepted Answer

The American Psychological Association (APA) is the organization that establishes the ethical guidelines for research conducted by psychologists. The APA's Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct outlines the standards that psychologists must follow in their research, including informed consent, confidentiality, and avoiding harm to participants.

Quiz 1: The Science of Psychology