Question

Research Psychologist A has been conducting a study with human subjects for nearly a year. As a result, A has come to know Participant M quite well. The study is taking longer than expected, and some of the participants are leaving the study. Because of the nature of the working relationship with the participants, Research Psychologist A and Participant M have become interested in an intimate relationship. Since neither one wants to jeopardize the progress of the study, they agree to retain only a professional relationship for the duration of the study, and then to pursue an intimate relationship once the study is completed and the results have been published.

address the ethical issues of this case and present options for resolving the ethical conflict. consider individual perceptions as well as the needs, potential, and motivation of the involved parties when positing your resolution.

Describe the ethical conflict in the scenario above.

Describe the options for resolving the ethical conflict including the interpersonal perceptions and other considerations that influence the options. (Benchmarks: Relationships, Spirit and Self-Discovery C8.2: Evaluate changes in one's ability to be perceptive of others.)

Identify the preferred option for resolving the conflict, and explain why it is the best option. How does this option address the needs, potential, and motivations of the involved parties? (Benchmarks: Relationships, Spirit and Self-Discovery C8.3: Synthesize the potential and motivations of self and others.)

Propose steps Research Psychologist A should take to avoid a similar situation in the future.

Answer 1

Describe the ethical conflict in the scenario above

A boundary violation is the first ethical conflict. There has already been a violation of it by thinking of an intimate relationship with the subject. This influences the way the results are obtained. But it is not possible to not develop some kind of dual relationship with the subjects. The nature of the relationship being 'intimate' is what tests the boundary. Whether or not the intimacy is stretched out until the results are published, there is a chance of bias in the findings with respect to the subject due to the relationship with the researcher.

Describe the options for resolving the ethical conflict including the interpersonal perceptions and other considerations that influence the options. (Benchmarks: Relationships, Spirit and Self-Discovery C8.2: Evaluate changes in one's ability to be perceptive of others.)

Years of experience: If the researcher is relatively less experienced, then the chances of the conflict for getting into such a relationship would have been lesser.

Gender: The gender of the researcher and the subject influences this ethical dilemma. The subject and the researcher have chances of overstepping the boundaries.

Ethical Principles: A strong moral compass and ethical values is of utmost importance to the person of authority. This willl lead to lesser conflicts and easier decision making.

Identify the preferred option for resolving the conflict, and explain why it is the best option. How does this option address the needs, potential, and motivations of the involved parties? (Benchmarks: Relationships, Spirit and Self-Discovery C8.3: Synthesize the potential and motivations of self and others.)

The best option is to reset boundaries and address the conflict with the guiding ethical principles. It is important to use the positive character traits in order to establish and maintain boundaries as part of the profession. Ethical principles will help the researcher in addressing the issues related to the setting of the reserach, the duration of interaction, the power differential between the researcher and the subject etc.,

The potential motivations or benefits could be from both parties involved. From the researcher's standpoint, it could be for better results in his research, a better training experience etc., and from a subject's standpoint, it could be access to the researcher's work, contacts and results.

Propose steps Research Psychologist A should take to avoid a similar situation in the future.

Steps that the research psychologist should take:

1. Clear demarkation of responsibilities
2. Clear setting of boundaries and enforcement of it
3. Managing duration spent with subjects effectively
4. Ensuring gender based approach to avoid such ethical conflicts
5. Focussing on research and work
6. Educating subjects on harm to self/research due to overstepping boundaries
7. Maintaining a professional environment