In a memory study, researchers have participants study a list of words, and then tell them it was the wrong list and that they should forget it. This deception is meant to see how effectively participants can forget something they have already studied
If the researchers plan to debrief the participants afterward, would this design meet the standards of an ethical study?
a. No, it is not okay to mislead individuals during the course of a study.
b. Yes, given that the participants are not at risk and that they will be debriefed, this seems to be an ethical study.
c. No, because the researchers should not debrief the participants—it will simply cause them to become angry.
d. Yes, because participants fully understood all aspects of the study.
Answer: B
Rationale: Ethical guidelines often help to negotiate conflicting interests, and in psychological research the main conflict is between the need for informed consent and the need for "blinded" volunteers.
You might also like to view...
How many different genes are associated with the creation of the plaques found in Alzheimer's disease?
a. none b. two c. four d. dozens
After continuously increasing for more than two decades, the breast cancer rates among American women have been decreasing over the past few years. This may be because of a reduction in the use of ____
a. HRT c. sanitary pads b. birth control pills d. SSRIs