Professor Wyler has obtained a grant from the National Institute of Mental Health to study the effects of violence in film on attitudes towards aggression among teenagers. He would like to study the effects in a range of socio-economic settings, from impoverished to very wealthy communities. Should he obtain approval from his institutional review board? Why or why not? Discuss potential ethical

issues that he should consider related to research in an impoverished community.

What will be an ideal response?

ANSWER:
Professor Wyler needs approval of his institutional review board because his university receives federal funding. He must assure that participation is voluntary; for example, any incentives should be at an appropriate level that does not make it difficult to decline to participate. Each participant must provide informed consent. Consent forms should be written in plain language. Depending on age and literacy levels, there may be some difficulty in reading consent forms. Assistance may need to be provided. Teenagers age 18 and above likely can consent for themselves. Younger teenagers would need parental consent as well as their own. Professor Wyler must take care that the content of the films cannot do harm to the participants. He must plan for protection of the participants’ privacy during the study and for protection of the confidentiality of their data. Students may raise other issues.