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Exploring the rules that ensure participants are treated fairly and safely.
Imagine being told you're participating in a simple memory test, only to find out later you were actually being observed for how you react to extreme stress without your knowledge. Is that fair? In the world of psychology, who decides what is 'too far'?
Before a single participant is recruited, every psychological study must pass through the Institutional Review Board (IRB). Think of the IRB as a 'security checkpoint' for science. This committee is composed of scientists and community members who review research proposals to ensure they are ethical. Their primary mission is to protect the rights and welfare of human participants. They weigh the potential benefits of the research against the risks. If the risk of harm—whether physical or psychological—is too high, the study is rejected. In a typical university, the IRB might review studies per year to ensure that researchers follow strict safety guidelines.
Quick Check
What is the primary goal of an Institutional Review Board (IRB)?
Answer
To protect the rights and welfare of human participants by reviewing research proposals before they begin.
One of the most vital rules in ethics is informed consent. This is a process where a potential participant is told about the nature of the study, including any risks, benefits, and their right to leave at any time without penalty. It is not just a signature on a page; it is an ongoing agreement. Participants must be 'informed' (given the facts) and 'consenting' (agreeing voluntarily). For minors (those under ), researchers must obtain 'assent' from the child and 'consent' from a parent or guardian. This ensures that no one is ever forced or tricked into a study they don't want to do.
A researcher wants to study how much sleep 9th graders get. 1. The researcher creates a form explaining that the survey takes minutes. 2. The form states that names will be kept anonymous (). 3. The student reads that they can stop the survey at any time. 4. The student signs the form before answering any questions.
Quick Check
If a participant starts a study but feels uncomfortable, what does 'informed consent' allow them to do?
Answer
It allows them to withdraw from the study at any time without any penalty.
Sometimes, telling a participant exactly what a study is about would ruin the results. This is called deception. For example, if you knew a study was testing 'honesty,' you might act more honest than usual. While the IRB allows limited deception, it requires debriefing immediately after the study. During debriefing, the researcher must explain the true purpose of the study, reveal any deceptions used, and ensure the participant leaves in the same physical and mental state they arrived in. It is the final step in maintaining the 'human' element of human research.
A researcher tells a participant they are taking a 'vision test' (), but they are actually testing if the participant will agree with a group of people who are lying (). 1. The participant completes the task. 2. Immediately after, the researcher sits them down. 3. The researcher explains: 'We weren't actually testing your vision; we were looking at social pressure.' 4. The researcher answers questions to ensure the participant doesn't feel foolish or upset.
Ethical research is a balancing act. Researchers use a 'cost-benefit analysis' where the 'cost' is the potential stress to the participant and the 'benefit' is the knowledge gained for society. If the probability of harm is greater than the minimal risk found in daily life, the IRB will likely require changes. Modern psychology operates on the principle of Beneficence, which means 'doing good' and minimizing harm. This ensures that while we learn about the human mind, we never lose our humanity in the process.
A researcher wants to study high-stakes decision making by simulating a fake emergency. 1. The IRB reviews the plan and worries about the stress levels (). 2. They require the researcher to have a licensed therapist on-site. 3. They mandate a strict 'stop' button for participants. 4. The researcher must provide a full debriefing and a follow-up call hours later to check on the participant's well-being.
Which group is responsible for reviewing a research proposal to ensure it is safe for participants?
If a researcher uses deception in an experiment, when must they explain the true nature of the study to the participant?
Informed consent means a participant is legally locked into a study and cannot leave until it is finished.
Review Tomorrow
In 24 hours, try to explain to a friend the difference between 'informed consent' and 'debriefing' and why both are necessary.
Practice Activity
Find a news article about a scientific study. Look for a section called 'Methods' or 'Ethics' and see if they mention IRB approval or how they treated their participants.