Research ethics for lab-based psychology experiments are relatively well-establish. Research ethics for online field experiments, on the other hand, are still a subject of great disagreement, as was illustrated by the recent debates over the Facebook emotional contagion experiment. Because the tools of digital experimentation will evolve more quickly than shared norms about research ethics, we are likely to continue to confront disagreements about research ethics for some time to come. When making decisions about the ethics of our own research — and having debates about research ethics in the digital age more broadly — researchers should make use of existing principles of ethical research that have already been developed. Although the specific ethical issues that we face are new, the general problems are very old. Show One excellent source of existing wisdom about research ethics is the Belmont Report, which was published in 1979. Commissioned by the US Government in response to ethical failures in medical research, such as the Tuskegee Syphilis Study, the Belmont Report was written by a panel of experts and proposes three principles that should underlying the ethical conduct of research involving human subjects: 1) Respect for persons; 2) Beneficence; and 3) Justice. These three principles, which are somewhat abstract in the Report, were later operationalized into the the detailed rules and procedures that make up the Common Rule, which governs research at US universities. When facing a research ethics challenge, going back to these three principles can often be very helpful.
The Belmont Report argues that respect for persons consists of two distinct principles: individuals should be treated as autonomous and individuals with diminished autonomy should be entitled to additional protections. The principle of respect for persons is interpreted to mean that researchers should, if possible, receive informed consent from participants, and the Belmont Report identifies three elements of informed consent: information, comprehension, and voluntariness. That is, respect for persons implies that participants should be presented with relevant information in a comprehensible format and then should voluntarily agree to participate.
Beneficence can roughly be understood to mean having the interests of research participants in mind. The principle of beneficence is behind efforts by researchers to minimize risks to participants and maximize benefits to participants and society. For example, when considering a research design, the principle of beneficence should cause us to ask if there is another way that we could obtain the same knowledge but with lower risks to participants.
The principle of justice addresses the distribution of the burdens and benefits of research. That is, it should not be the case that one group in society bears the costs of research while another group reaps its benefits. Issues of justice arise most strongly around questions about the selection of participants. Applying these three principles to specific ethical situations can be difficult, and the principles sometimes come into conflict. However, even if they do not lead to clear decisions in all cases, keeping these three principles in mind helps clarify the issues.
Update: If you would like to read more about the ethics of social research, you can read Chapter 6 of my book Bit by Bit: Social Research in the Digital Age. One thing that makes writing about “ethical considerations” difficult in IB Psychology is when the question asks to write about “one” specifically. As we usually write about ethical guidelines (informed consent, debriefing, right to withdraw, etc.) it’s hard to identify just one as these are all interconnected. This is where using one of the three considerations that came out of the Belmont Report could be really useful. What is The Belmont Report? This was a document written in the 1970s by a group of medical and psychological professionals (at the Belmont Conference Center in Maryland, USA). The document’s aim is to outline ethical guidelines for experimentation using human subjects. The report states three principles that should be maintained in all experiments on humans. The Three Principles
BENEFICENCE In common use, beneficence means doing good or “doing the right thing;” acting in a manner that benefits others. In Psychological research, it means that researchers should not harm their participants (physically or psychologically) and that all participants should finish the research in the same condition (or better) that they were in when they began. Common guidelines such as debriefing and the right to withdraw would fall under this category, as well as informed consent (if it’s aimed to reduce harm or stress).  RESPECT FOR PERSONS This principle is rather self-explanatory – the researchers must respect their participants. Researchers must be truthful and not deceive their participants. Informed consent, anonymity and confidentiality are relevant guidelines for this principle. JUSTICE This final principle refers to the idea that all people must benefit equally from the outcomes of the study. In the history of research, it has often been the case that groups with less social status are the subjects of research and those with higher status reep the rewards and benefits. PAPER ONE AND TWO TIPSIf you are asked to write about “one” ethical consideration, one of the principles of the Belmont Report could be good to write about since it would allow you to include numerous relevant guidelines (e.g. one consideration could be “beneficence” and this would allow you to write about all the guidelines the researchers did or could follow to stick to this principle). If you are writing about one of these three principles in the exam, be sure to mention that they come from the Belmont Report. PAPER THREE TIPSYou need to write about six considerations in Question 2. I recommend using the common guidelines (informed consent, anonymity, etc.) for as many of the six points as you can. However, this can be tough and so the three principles of the Belmont Report might give you some extra points to add if you get stuck. What are the 5 guidelines of ethical research?Five principles for research ethics. Discuss intellectual property frankly. ... . Be conscious of multiple roles. ... . Follow informed-consent rules. ... . Respect confidentiality and privacy. ... . Tap into ethics resources.. What are the three main considerations of the Belmont Report?Three basic principles, among those generally accepted in our cultural tradition, are particularly relevant to the ethics of research involving human subjects: the principles of respect of persons, beneficence and justice.
Which of the following is included in the Belmont Report?The Belmont Report summarizes ethical principles and guidelines for research involving human subjects. Three core principles are identified: respect for persons, beneficence, and justice.
What is Belmont Report discuss its importance as a researcher?The Belmont Report identifies basic ethical principles for conducting research that involve human subjects. It also sets forth guidelines to assure these principles are followed throughout the research process.
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