Milgrams Obedience Experiment Studies the phenomenon of obedience

Milgram’s Obedience Experiment • Studies the phenomenon of obedience to an authority figure – Told participants the study was to measure the effects of punishment on learning – Participants were mislead about the severity of punishment; the “shock” administered were not real • Results – 65% of participants administered “shocks” up to 450 volts • Was this study ethical?

Risks in Psychological Research • Physical harm • Stress • Loss of privacy and confidentiality Guidelines: • The Belmont Report from the National Commission, 1979; Ethical principles and guidelines for the protection of human subjects of research • 1982; APA published a book

Ethical or Unethical? • Men using a public restroom are observed secretly by a researcher hidden in a toilet stall, and the time they take to urinate is recorded (Middlemist, Knowles, & Matter, 1976). • Shoppers in a drugstore are exposed to a shoplifting confederate, and their reactions are observed (Gelfand, Hartmann, Walder, & Page, 1973). • Researchers hide under dormitory beds and eavesdrop on college students’ conversations (Henle & Hubbell, 1938).

Right to privacy • The circumstances under which researchers may collect data w/o participant’s knowledge is left to the investigator’s judgement –APA’s book Ethical Principles • Research involving the observation of people in public need not be reviewed by IRB --Federal guidelines

Informed Consent • Informed consent form should: – Be read and signed by participant – Be easy to understand – Mention any risks – Clarify confidentiality – Assure that participation is voluntary – Inform subject about withdrawal – Provide the experimenter’s contact info

Issues w/ consent • Autonomy – Minors need consent from a guardian – Coercion limits the participant’s freedom • Information – Too much can invalidate study – Deception is often used

• Debriefing – Occurs after the completion of the study – Goals • Alternatives to Deception – Role-Playing – Simulation studies – Honest experiments

Regulations • Human Research – Institutional Review Board (IRB) – Exempt Research – Minimal Risk Research – Greater than minimal risk research • Animal Research – Institutional Animal Care and Use committee (IACUC)

Risks and benefits • Do the costs outweigh the benefits? – If so, research is warranted • Are there alternative procedures? • Is this ethical / just / confidential?

Misrepresentation • • • Fabrication of data Plagiarism Result: inability to replicate data • Possible reasons 1. 2. 3. -