Research Methods Chapter 3

Front 1

Risk/benefit ratio

Back 1

This asks the question "is it worth it"? There are no mathematical answers to the risk/benefit ration. Instead, when deciding whether to approve a research proposal, members of an IRB strive to reach consensus on a subjective evaluation of the risks and benefits both to individual participants and society.

Front 2

Minimal Risk

Back 2

the harm or discomfort participants may experience in the research is not greater than what they might experience in their daily lives.

Front 3

Informed consent

Back 3

is a person's explicityly expressed willingness to participate in a research project based on a clear understanding of the nature of the research, of the consequences of not participating, and of all factors that might be expected to influence that person's willingness to participate.

Front 4

Privacy

Back 4

refers to the rights of individuals to decide how information about them is to be communicated to others. The APA Ethics Code clearly states that "psychologists have a primary obligation and take reasonable precautions to protect confidential information obtained: from research participants.

Front 5

Deception

Back 5

can occur either through omission, the withholding of information, or commission, the intentionally misinforming participants about an aspect of the research.

Front 6

Debriefing

Back 6

is necessary to explain to participants the need for deception, to address any misconceptions participants may have about their participation, and to remove any harmful effects resulting from the deception. Debriefing also has the important goals of educating participants about the research and of leaving them with positive feelings about their participation.