In the ethics code, the APA writes that every research study must start with informed consent. All participants of any study must be given a consent form that covers the study in its entirety- from what they participants will be required to do, any risks or benefits, confidentiality issues and any reward that will be given.
When it comes to the experiment …show more content…
“Minimal risk” is defined as a situation in which “the probability and magnitude of harm or discomfort anticipated in the proposed research are not greater, in and of themselves, than those ordinarily encountered in daily life or during the performance of routine physical or psychological examinations or tests” (Office for Protection from Research Risks 1993). I do not believe a “cost-benefit” analysis is necessary to weigh any potential consequences. After the study is done, I would debrief the participants by telling them what was monitored and how those conversations and discussions contributed to the study’s results. Since debriefing the participants of an online study is not always simple as they can choose to quit at any time without giving researchers having the opportunity to debrief them in person, I would add a “quit the study” option to the discussion boards that when clicked, the participants would be directed to a page containing the debriefing statement with an online exam under it to ensure they understood the purpose of the study. Additionally, to address the impact of the use of deception on the participants I could also ask “Would you choose to participate in the study again if you knew what you know now? “- and see how they …show more content…
By pairing images or glamor with alcohol, or implying that "cool" people are people who smoke, advertisers may be swaying impressionable people, particularly today’s youth, into making addictive and harmful choices. Also, people have a natural tendency to desire substances that are dangerous to them. Using manipulative techniques ups their desire to an extremely high level and makes it near impossible to resist the temptation to purchase items that can cause illness or even death. There are laws that prohibit the use of these unethical practices and require that all side effects must be stated, such as commercials with the many dangers of smoking. The company must be fully truthful about any side effects their products can bring in order to allow their targeted audience to make a fully informed choice. An additional ethical concern arises when it comes to advertising to a vulnerable population, such as those that are mentally deficient or even foreigners, as they are not able to distinguish the marketing ploys that are used.
If I were to modify this scenario, I would ensure that any adverse effects were mentioned. Additionally, before the consumer would buy the product I would ensure that they would sign a form stating that they were informed about all adverse side effects and any potential risks