Evolution of Ethics in Psychological Research
Session Title
Poster Session 1
Faculty Mentor
Darren Ritzer, Ph.D.| Merry Sleigh, Ph.D.| Matthew Hayes, Ph.D.
College
College of Arts and Sciences
Department
Psychology
Abstract
Ethics in research are constantly evolving to conform to everchanging societal norms. Many psychological advances can be traced to experiments that crossed ethical guidelines, including psychological and physical harm to subjects, deceiving participants, and denying them the right to withdraw from the study. However, researchers have replicated the results of these infamous experiments in various ways while still following ethical laws and guidelines, thus raising the question of why these guidelines were crossed in the first place. The purpose of this study is to review different research experiments that are deemed unethical and determine whether or not crossing these boundaries were warranted for the advancement of science by looking at experimental replications and their findings. While many argue some of these experiments were crucial in the development of psychology as a discipline, this case study determines that crossing these ethical boundaries was unjustified.
Honors Thesis Committee
Darren Ritzer, Ph.D., Merry Sleigh, Ph.D., Matthew Hayes, Ph.D.
Course Assignment
HONR451 – Lipscomb
Previously Presented/Performed?
Winthrop University Showcase of Undergraduate Research and Creative Endeavors, Rock Hill, SC, April 2023.
Type of Presentation
Poster presentation
Start Date
15-4-2023 12:00 PM
Evolution of Ethics in Psychological Research
Ethics in research are constantly evolving to conform to everchanging societal norms. Many psychological advances can be traced to experiments that crossed ethical guidelines, including psychological and physical harm to subjects, deceiving participants, and denying them the right to withdraw from the study. However, researchers have replicated the results of these infamous experiments in various ways while still following ethical laws and guidelines, thus raising the question of why these guidelines were crossed in the first place. The purpose of this study is to review different research experiments that are deemed unethical and determine whether or not crossing these boundaries were warranted for the advancement of science by looking at experimental replications and their findings. While many argue some of these experiments were crucial in the development of psychology as a discipline, this case study determines that crossing these ethical boundaries was unjustified.
