Question 1
Informed consent as used in social science research refers to a principle where researches clearly state the facts to the potential participants of a research study on issues regarding the duration of the study, the intention of the research, the right to refuse to participate or pull out when they please. The principle also enables the participants to know the potential implications and consequences of participating in the study as well as any motivators and profits that might accrue from participating in the study (Bernat, 2001).
Question 2
Deception can be an aspect of research that is quite necessary at some points especially if the psychologists analyze the antecedent conditions and realize that the research is not practical without twisting the truth. However, there are instances where deception should not be used. One instance is where the researcher knows that the participant is likely to experience physical pain, and or emotional distress during the study.
Question 3
The Tuskegee experiment was a study done by the American Public health service in an attempt to try to figure out the natural progress of syphilis that is left untreated in rural African- American male subjects to understand better the neurological effects of syphilis. The participants were recruited with false assurances of a free special treatment. However, it tuned out that they had spinal taps performed with no anesthetics. The study was unethical since the principle of informed consent was not observed at all. Several participants died of advanced syphilis, and the American president at the time ha to apologize on behalf of the government to the survivors of the research who were later compensated.
Question 4
Stanley Milgram’s obedience experiment has been extensively criticized for being unethical. Though nobody was actually physically harmed, it had serious psychological implications on the participants involved they were unable to withdraw from the experiment. The IRB is responsible for minimizing the risks on subjects; the risks exposed to subjects should be rational relative to the expected benefits, if at all there are any. Risks include injuries both physically and emotionally as well as setbacks. Benefits could be in form of reimbursements, payments, medical etc. Milgram was able to trigger several scientific investigations and replications of studies to help people understand behavior, this was a scientific benefit, on an individual level the participants received payment for their participation in the study (Brannigan, 2013).
References
Bernat, J. L. (2001). Informed consent. Muscle & Nerve, 24, 614–621. http://doi.org/10.1002/mus.1046
Brannigan, A. (2013). Milgram Experiment. Society, (L), 623–628.
