PYSC 224 Introduction to Experimental Psychology

Transcription

1 PYSC 224 Introduction to Experimental Psychology Session 10 Ethics in Psychological Research- Part 2 & 3 Lecturer:, Dept. of Psychology Contact Information: mamankwah-poku@ug.edu.gh College of Education School of Continuing and Distance Education 2015/ /2017

2 Session Overview The use of animals in research has played a major role in the development of the field of psychology After a long standing debate about the unethical use of animals in experimentation, the need for ethical guidelines was acknowledged Thus, there are APA ethical guidelines governing the use of animal subject in research Besides maintaining the ethical guidelines, psychologist in all their research activities (from designing and conducting research up to research report writing) are to avoid scientific misconduct

3 Session Goals and Objectives By the end of the session, you should be able to Explain how animal ethics came about Outline and explain the APA ethical guidelines governing the use of animals subjects in research Define scientific misconduct Explain the 3 component that make up scientific misconduct

4 Session Outline The key topics to be covered in the session are as follows: Why Ethical Concerns in Animals Research? Ethical Concerns in Research with Animals Scientific Misconduct

5 Reading List Christensen, B.L. (2007). Experimental Methodology (10th ed.). Boston: Allyn & Bacon. (p ) Kantowitz, B. H., Roediger III, H. L., Elmes, D. G. (2015). Experimental Psychology. Stamford: Cengage Learning (p )

6 Topic One WHY ETHICAL CONCERNS IN ANIMALS RESEARCH?

7 Ethics in animal research Use of animals in research has played a major role in the development of the field of psychology Most especially in the development of theories in psychology Example- Pavlov, Thorndike etc. Animals are used in experimentation for manipulations that are not ethically permissible with human participants

8 Ethics in animal research Unfortunately, there is a long standing debate about using animals in experimentation Some people believe that animal research is important to meet the goals of society Others think researchers violate the rights of animals to live freely and unharmed and thus are unethical (Heiman, 1995)

9 Ethics in animal research In the 1970s and early 1980s, animal right groups, protested the use of animals in research thus, the need for ethical guidelines Examples of animal rights groups: People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) Animal Rights Coalition Animal Liberation Front (ALF) (Christensen, 2007)

10 Ethics in animal research The APA guidelines thus specifies how animals may be treated, housed and disposed off after use in experimentation The guidelines is informed by Section 8.09 of the Ethical Principles of Psychologist and Code of Conduct (APA, 2010)

11 Topic Two ETHICAL GUIDELINES FOR RESEARCH WITH ANIMALS

12 Ethical guidelines for Animals Research 1. Justification of research Research with animals should only be used for scientific purposes and with the expectation: to understand behaviour, increase knowledge and understanding of the species being studied and/ be of benefit to the health and welfare of humans or animals

13 Ethical guidelines for Animals Research 1. Justification of research The specie used should be the one that will best answer the research question The psychologist should consider alternatives that will minimise the number of animals tested Research protocol must be reviewed by the IACUC (Institutional Animal Care and Use Committees)

14 Ethical guidelines for Animals Research 2. Personnel The psychologist must ensure that personnel involved in animals research know the ethical guidelines Psychologists and their assistants should be aware of the behavioural characteristics of animal subjects in order to distinguish unusual behaviour from normal behaviour

15 Ethical guidelines for Animals 2. Personnel Research Ensure that personnel under their supervision are well informed about experimental methods and in the care, maintenance and handling of the species being studied Personnel's activities must match up to their competence, training and experience in laboratory or field research

16 Ethical guidelines for Animals Research 3. Care and housing of lab animals The psychological well-being of animals vary from specie to specie, thus, the APA does not provide any specific guidelines Instead, psychologists familiar with certain species should enrich the environment to develop the psychological well-being of the species

17 Ethical guidelines for Animals Research 3. Care and housing of lab animals *Also, facilities housing animals should conform to the US Dept. for Agriculture (USDA, 1991) guidelines and inspected twice a year Research should be reviewed by an Institutional Animal Care and Use Committees (IACUC) to ensure appropriate and humane procedures Animals in facilities should be provided with humane care and healthy conditions

18 Ethical guidelines for Animals Research 4. Acquisition of Lab animals Animals should be lawfully acquired from a qualified supplier Transporters should provide them with adequate food, water ventilation, space and not cause the animals undue stress

19 Ethical guidelines for Animals Research 4. Acquisition of Lab animals Animals taken from the wild should be trapped in a humane manner Endangered species should be used with the required permits and ethical concern

20 Ethical guidelines for Animals Research 5. Experimental procedures The humane treatment of animals should be integrated in the design and conduct of all procedures The psychologists should also (in addition the first guidelines) adhere to further guidelines such as:

21 Ethical guidelines for Animals Research 5. Experimental procedures Use alternative procedures that minimize discomfort, illness and pain to animal or use minimal levels of aversive stimulation Surgical procedures must be supervised by persons who are competent in the procedure Use euthanasia in the most humane manner to ensure immediate death etc.

22 Ethical guidelines for Animals 6. Field research Research Field research (except observational) must receive IACUC approval because of its probable damage to sensitive ecosystems (environments) and communities There should be little disturbance to the population as well as minimize potential harmful effects on the population being studied

23 Ethical guidelines for Animals 6. Field research Research The privacy and property of humans in inhabited places should be respected Study of endangered species must be justified and ethical approval received

24 Ethical guidelines for Animals Research 7. Educational use of Animals Instructions and discussions of ethics and the values of animal research should be encouraged in all relevant courses Animals may be used for educational purposes only after review of the planned use The possible use of non-animal alternatives must be consider, e.g. videotapes, films, etc.

25 Topic Three SCIENTIFIC MISCONDUCT

26 Scientific Misconduct The US Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP, 2000) defines research misconduct as Fabrication, falsification, or plagiarism (FFP) in proposing, performing or reviewing research, or reporting research results

27 Fabrication Fabrication is misrepresenting research results by making up data and recording or reporting them (National Health Institute- USA) E.g.- using fake names and participant information to complete questionnaire or laboratory procedures etc. Thus, individuals are deceived about the outcome of the research

28 Falsification Falsification is manipulating research materials, equipment or processes, or changing or omitting data or results such that the research is not accurately represented in the research record (NHI) Deleting data to confirm your hypotheses, altering images etc.

29 Plagiarism Plagiarism ranges from the unreferenced use of others published or unpublished ideas, including research grant applications, to submissions under a new authorship to a complete paper, sometimes in a different language. It may occur at any stage of planning, research, writing or publication; it applies to print and electronic version (COPE, 1999, p. 219)

30 Plagiarism Plagiarism is The appropriation of another person s idea, processes, results, or words without giving appropriate credit It is simply academic theft E.g. Citing someone s recommendations as your own, presenting a procedure as your original work, etc. * Read more about scientific misconduct and discuss it at tutorials

31 END OF SESSION 10 Part 2 & 3

32 References Christensen, B.L. (2007). Experimental Methodology (10th ed.). Boston: Allyn & Bacon. Kantowitz, B. H., Roediger III, H. L., Elmes, D. G. (2015). Experimental Psychology. Stamford: Cengage Learning Office of Science and Technology Policy (2010). Federal Policy on Research Misconduct, Federal Register 65 (6 December 2000):