Ethics in Research

History of Research Ethics

• 1939-1945: Nazi research

– 1947 Nuremberg Code

• 1930s-1972: Tuskegee Study

• 1944-1974: Human Radiation Experiments

• 1963: Jewish Hospital Chronic Disease

• 1963-66: Willowbrook Study

History continued

• 1979: Belmont report

• 1999: Gene Therapy Death

• 2000: Office of Human Research Protections

APA Guidelines

Institutional Review Board

• What is the purpose of the project?

• Who will be the participants?

• Describe the procedures.

• Describe any discomfort or anxiety the procedures may cause.

• Describe any deception and explain why it is to be used. How will you disabuse participants of the deception?

• What measures will you take to safeguard privacy and confidentiality?

Other Guidelines

• Informed consent

• Freedom to withdraw

• Deception

• Debriefing

• Confidentiality

Ethical issues with animals

• History of animal rights movement

– Singer’s Animal Liberation (1975)

• Why you should be aware of issues

Animal rights arguments

• Reformers vs. liberators

• Utilitarian

– Principle of equality

– Speciesism

• Rights

– Respect principle

– Worst off principle

Scientific use of animals arguments

• Can lead to better lives for humans

• Counterarguments to:

– Animals feel pain

– Destruction of life

– Speciesism

Other arguments for/against doing research with animals?

APA guidelines for animal research

• Training

• Explicit instruction

• Minimize pain

• Terminate painlessly

• Living conditions

Plous (1996) survey

Drug guidelines

• Provide appropriate aftercare

• Researcher trained in drugs

• Researcher familiar with drug

• Drug use justified scientifically

Other ethical issues

• Withholding benefits from controls

• Ethical issues in how research is used

• Issues with representation (fraud)

• Failure to conduct research