Moral Foundations of Ethical Research Integrity is vital because it fosters trust in

human relationships, especially between

Ethics researchers and participants. Trust relies
is the branch of philosophy that is on researchers being honest, keeping
concerned with morality—what it means to promises (like confidentiality), and
behave morally and how people can conducting research to maximize benefits
achieve that goal. and minimize risks.

It can also refer to a set of principles and Seeking justice

practices that provide moral guidance in a the importance of conducting research in
particular field. a just and fair manner. Researchers are
expected to treat their participants fairly,
including providing adequate
Four General Moral Principles compensation and ensuring that benefits
and risks are distributed evenly among all
that apply to scientific research:
participants.

Weighing risks against benefits

Researchers must consider issues of
It argues that research must be ethical, justice and fairness in their work to avoid
meaning that the benefits it offers should ethical violations and ensure that all
outweigh the risks involved. Risks to participants are treated equitably.
participants can include potential harm,
ineffective treatments, or privacy
violations, while benefits include gaining Respecting people’s rights and
knowledge and contributing to science. dignity.
There are also risks and benefits to the
scientific community and society as a the importance of researchers respecting
whole. people's rights and dignity as human
beings. Informed consent is a crucial
Balancing these risks and benefits is aspect, requiring researchers to inform
challenging, as they may not always be participants fully about the study's details
directly comparable. It illustrates this that might affect their decision to
complexity with the example of Stanley participate.
Milgram's study on obedience, where
significant psychological stress was
inflicted on participants in the pursuit of the importance of respecting privacy by
important scientific knowledge maintaining confidentiality and, ideally,
ensuring participant anonymity.

Acting responsibly and with integrity

The importance of researchers acting Unavoidable Ethical Conflict

responsibly and with integrity in their Ethical conflicts in psychological research
work. This includes conducting research are inevitable because most research
competently, fulfilling professional involves some level of risk, creating a
obligations, and being truthful. conflict between risks and benefits.
dealing with ethical conflicts responsibly
● Beneficence: Maximizing research
involves thorough consideration of ethical
issues, minimizing risks, and balancing benefits while minimizing harms.
risks against benefits. Researchers should Served as the foundation for the Federal
be able to explain their ethical decisions, Policy for the Protection of Human
seek feedback, and take responsibility for Subjects.
them. While ethical conflicts may not be
entirely avoidable, they can be managed
in a responsible and constructive manner.
Federal Policy for the Protection of
Human Subjects (United States):

From Moral Principles to Ethics Codes Imposes regulations on research

supported or regulated by the federal
Historical Overview government.
Nuremberg Code (1947): Requires institutions receiving federal
Set of 10 principles created after the trials support to establish an Institutional
of Nazi physicians involved in inhumane Review Board (IRB).
research during WWII. IRB ensures minimized risks, balanced
Emphasized careful consideration of risks benefits, fair research, and adequate
and benefits and the importance of informed consent.
informed consent. Classifies research into three risk levels:
Declaration of Helsinki (1964): exempt, expedited, and greater than
minimal risk.
An ethics code by the World Medical
Council.

Added standards to the Nuremberg Code, ● Exempt research is the lowest risk
including the requirement for a detailed
and is exempt from continuous
research protocol and independent
review.
committee review.
● Expedited research poses slightly
higher risk but still minimal.
Belmont Report (1978, United ● Greater than minimal risk research
States):
requires full IRB review.
Resulted from concerns about unethical
research like the Tuskegee study.
Ethics Codes
Recognized three principles:
The APA’s Ethical Principles of
● Seeking Justice: Distributing risks Psychologists and Code of Conduct (also
and benefits fairly at the societal known as the APA Ethic s Code) was first
level. published in 1953.
● Respect for Persons:
Acknowledging autonomy and
protecting those with diminished APA Ethics Code Standard 8: Research
autonomy, emphasizing informed and Publication Notes:
consent.
8.01 Institutional Approval
 ● Psychologists provide accurate consent obtained during
debriefing in deceptive research.
information about research
proposals.
8.04 Client/Patient, Student, and
● Obtain institutional approval Subordinate Research Participants
before conducting research.
● Conduct research following the ● Protect prospective participants
approved protocol. from adverse consequences.
● Offer equitable alternative
8.02 Informed Consent to Research
activities for course-related
research.
● When obtaining informed
consent: 8.05 Dispensing With Informed Consent
● Inform participants about for Research
research purpose, duration,
and procedures. ● Dispense with informed consent
● Explain the right to decline only under specific conditions:
or withdraw from ● Research causes no harm
participation. or distress.
● Discuss foreseeable ● Educational practices,
consequences of declining anonymous questionnaires,
or withdrawing. naturalistic observations,
● Mention potential risks, archival research.
discomfort, and benefits. ● Job or organization
● Specify limits of effectiveness studies with
confidentiality. no risk to employability.
● Describe incentives for ● Permitted by law or
participation. regulations.
● Provide contact information
8.06 Offering Inducements for Research
for questions. Participation
● Allow participants to ask
questions. ● Avoid excessive or inappropriate
inducements.
8.03 Informed Consent for Recording
Voices and Images in Research ● Clarify nature of professional
services as inducements.
● Obtain informed consent before
8.07 Deception in Research
recording voices or images.
● Exceptions: Naturalistic
observations in public places and
 ● Justify deception with significant ● Do not present others' work as
scientific, educational, or applied your own, even with citations.
value.
● Do not deceive about research 8.12 Publication Credit
causing physical pain or severe
emotional distress. ● Take credit only for work
● Explain deception to participants, performed or substantially
preferably at the end. contributed.
● Accurately reflect individual
8.08 Debriefing contributions.
● Students listed as principal authors
● Provide prompt information about on relevant articles.
research nature, results, and
conclusions. 8.13 Duplicate Publication of Data
● Correct misconceptions.

● Minimize harm from research ● Do not publish previously

procedures. published data.
● Republish with proper
8.09 Humane Care and Use of Animals in acknowledgment if necessary.
Research
8.14 Sharing Research Data for
● Comply with laws and regulations. Verification
● Supervise animal procedures by
trained personnel. ● Share data for verification with
competent professionals.
● Provide instruction on animal care.
● Protect participant confidentiality.
● Minimize discomfort, pain, and
stress. ● Allow costs to be covered by
requesting parties.
● Use painful procedures only when
no alternatives exist. ● Use shared data only for the
declared purpose.
8.10 Reporting Research Results
8.15 Reviewers
● Do not fabricate data.
● Respect confidentiality and
● Correct significant errors in
proprietary rights when reviewing
published data. submitted materials.

8.11 Plagiarism
Informed Consent

means obtaining and documenting

people’s agreement to participate in a
study, having informed them of everything is the process of informing research
that might reasonably be expected to participants as soon as possible of the
affect their decision. purpose of the study, revealing any
deception, and correcting any other
This includes details of the procedure, the misconceptions they might have as a
risks and benefits of the research, the fact result of participating.
that they have the right to decline to
participate or to withdraw from the study, Debriefing also involves minimizing harm
the consequences of doing so, and any that might have occurred.
legal limits to confidentiality.

Nonhuman Animal Subjects

Deception
Applies to research involving nonhuman
Deception can manifest in various forms: animals in psychology.

Nonhuman animal subjects are still used,

● Misinforming participants about the
particularly in learning and conditioning,
study's purpose. behavioral neuroscience, and
● Using confederates (individuals drug/surgical therapies.
working with the researcher). Nonhuman animals are incapable of giving
● Employing fake equipment (e.g., informed consent. Yet they can be
subjected to numerous procedures that
Milgram's shock generator).
are likely to cause them suffering.
● Providing false feedback on
performance.
● Deception also includes not fully Scholarly Integrity

disclosing the research's true

● Researchers must not fabricate
design or purpose.
data or engage in plagiarism.
● Plagiarism involves using others'
Arguments Against Deception:
words or ideas without proper
Some argue that deception is rarely acknowledgment, including proper
justified: citation for quotes and ideas.
● Self-plagiarism (reusing one's own
● It prevents informed consent.
work without acknowledgment) is
● Fails to respect participants' also considered unethical.
dignity.
● Can upset participants and make
Putting Ethics into Practice
them distrustful.
● May lead to less honest responses. ● Know and Accept Your Ethical
Responsibilities
● Harms the reputation of
researchers in the field. ● Identify and Minimize Risks

● Identify and Minimize Deception

Debriefing ● Weigh the Risks Against the

Benefits
● Create Informed Consent and
Debriefing Procedures
● Get Approval

● Follow Through