A-L Q&A
A group of researchers is interested in how early exposure to violence affects attitudes
and behaviors in adulthood. They decide that they will use an inmate sample for their
study because there is a large prison in a neighboring town, and they would like to know
how many of the inmates who committed violent crimes were exposed to violence when
they were younger. The researchers approach the prison warden about the project, who
agrees that it would be a good way for inmates to positively contribute to the community.
The warden tells researchers that the specific details about the crimes committed by
inmates will not be disclosed. In order to encourage participation in the study the
warden tells inmates that they will be given overnight visits to visit friends and family.
Many of the inmates volunteer for the project.
True or False: There are ethical concerns with the study above. - (correct answer)True
What is the most obvious ethical dilemma in this scenario above? - (correct answer)The
incentive to participate in the research study is potentially coercive
There is no ethical dilemma
A group of researchers are interested in the circumstances under which people would
be likely to gamble large sums of money. They would like to if there is a difference
between people who meet diagnostic criteria for pathological gambling and those who
do not. Pathological gambling is characterized by preoccupation with gambling, feeling
the need to bet with increasingly higher sums of money, and difficulty stopping. The
researchers believe that people who meet criteria for pathological gambling will behave
more impulsively than who do not. In the research study subjects will be playing with
fake money, but, to encourage people to participate in the research study, participants
will receive $500 when it is over. - (correct answer)True
A group of researchers want to know why some people develop posttraumatic stress
disorder (PTSD) after being exposed to a traumatic event and others do not. Individuals
with PTSD may experience distressing thoughts or dreams about the trauma, become
easily startled, or feel disconnected from others. Study researchers plan to gather a
detailed history from participants and then expose them to a simulated traumatic event
to determine who is more susceptible to developing the disorder. Researchers hope to
use the information from their study to help prevent development of PTSD in the future
because it can be so debilitating.
A group of researchers is interested in how early exposure to violence affects attitudes
and behaviors in adulthood. They decide that they will use an inmate sample for their
study because there is a large prison in a neighboring town, and they would like to know
how many of the inmates who committed violent crimes were exposed to violence when
they were younger. The researchers approach the prison warden about the project, who
agrees that it would be a good way for inmates to positively contribute to the community.
The warden tells researchers that the specific details about the crimes committed by
inmates will not be disclosed. In order to encourage participation in the study the
warden tells inmates that they will be given overnight visits to visit friends and family.
Many of the inmates volunteer for the project.
True or False: There are ethical concerns with the study above. - (correct answer)True
What is the most obvious ethical dilemma in this scenario above? - (correct answer)The
incentive to participate in the research study is potentially coercive
There is no ethical dilemma
A group of researchers are interested in the circumstances under which people would
be likely to gamble large sums of money. They would like to if there is a difference
between people who meet diagnostic criteria for pathological gambling and those who
do not. Pathological gambling is characterized by preoccupation with gambling, feeling
the need to bet with increasingly higher sums of money, and difficulty stopping. The
researchers believe that people who meet criteria for pathological gambling will behave
more impulsively than who do not. In the research study subjects will be playing with
fake money, but, to encourage people to participate in the research study, participants
will receive $500 when it is over. - (correct answer)True
A group of researchers want to know why some people develop posttraumatic stress
disorder (PTSD) after being exposed to a traumatic event and others do not. Individuals
with PTSD may experience distressing thoughts or dreams about the trauma, become
easily startled, or feel disconnected from others. Study researchers plan to gather a
detailed history from participants and then expose them to a simulated traumatic event
to determine who is more susceptible to developing the disorder. Researchers hope to
use the information from their study to help prevent development of PTSD in the future
because it can be so debilitating.
