Question

1. Beverly really wants to go to graduate school in psychology and has the grades to get in, but she knows that she needs to have some research experience. She therefore begins working with Dr. Miserendino on a project in which she is observing white rats and measuring the amount of time it takes them to learn to navigate through a maze, depending on whether the animal has been given a drug or a placebo. Beverly is supposed to collect data every day for six days in a row (Monday through Saturday) to see what happens as the drug gradually wears off. She collects the data Monday through Friday, but on Saturday she isn’t able to go to the campus, because of a family emergency. She knows from talking to Dr. Miserendino about the study that it is too expensive to repeat the study, because both the rats themselves and the drugs are very costly. She also knows that if she tells Dr. Miserendino that she missed a day of data collection, Dr. Miserendino will be really upset. She considers making up the data just for Saturday, based on the data she had collected for the rest of the week. She knows that Dr. Miserendino would never have to find out what happened.
   Reflection Questions:
   Assuming that Dr. Miserendino never does find out about the made-up data, what are some possible negative ethical consequences of Beverly’s decision to falsify the data?
   1. Why is it risky for Beverly to make up the data?

What would you choose to do if you were in Beverly’s place? Explain.

Answer 1

1. If Dr. Miserendino never does find out about the made-up data and continues to publish his findings as they are, there can be severe ethical consequences of Beverly's decisions because this study involves the examination of Causation and effect of a drug on lab rats to find out how the drug would probably affect human beings. The problem with this research is, in case the study is further elaborated with human trial, the previous findings of the current research will give falsified information to new researchers and that may affect the subjects of the next research in an adverse manner.
2. It can be very risky for Beverly to make up the data because she is going through this research experience to get into graduate school for psychology, in case Dr. Miserendino comes to know about the situation, he will not write a letter of recommendation for Beverly.
3. It would be wise for anyone in Beverly’s place to disclose the information to the primary research stating that she is concerned about the ethics being followed which will in turn help her gain a letter of recommendation as the researcher would appreciate her concern for or ethical practices.

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1. If Dr. Miserendino never does find out about the made-up data and continues to publish his findings as they are, there can be severe ethical consequences of Beverly's decisions because this study involves the examination of Causation and effect of a drug on lab rats to find out how the drug would probably affect human beings. The problem with this research is, in case the study is further elaborated with human trial, the previous findings of the current research will give falsified information to new researchers and that may affect the subjects of the next research in an adverse manner.
2. It can be very risky for Beverly to make up the data because she is going through this research experience to get into graduate school for psychology, in case Dr. Miserendino comes to know about the situation, he will not write a letter of recommendation for Beverly.
3. It would be wise for anyone in Beverly’s place to disclose the information to the primary research stating that she is concerned about the ethics being followed which will in turn help her gain a letter of recommendation as the researcher would appreciate her concern for or ethical practices.

Hope this helps; please like for efforts.