Question

Scenario B: Consider the following experiment. Each participant interacted for an hour with another person who was actually a research confederate (an actor working for the researcher). The confederate either presented herself as similar or dissimilar to the participant. After this interaction, both persons agreed to return 1 week later for another session with each other. When the real participants returned, they were falsely informed that the person they had met the week before had died. The researchers then compared how long the participant spent viewing a picture of the “deceased” depending on whether the person had presented as similar or dissimilar to them. The participant was never told that the reported death was untrue. Write a hypothesis that is tested in this study. Discuss the ethical issues raised in the experiment. What would you recommend the experimenters do to protect the participants and minimize risk of harm?

Answer 1

Hypothesis: There will be a difference in the amount of time spent to view the picture of the deceased among the two groups of participants (one group where confederate presented themselves as similar to them and the other group where the confederate presented themselves as dissimilar to them).

With the present experiments, there can be ethical issues related trusts. The ethic of American Psychological Association requires fidelity and responsibility from the researcher. The idea of Beneficence and Nonmaleficence of the ethical conduct suggests that the participants would not be the harm in any way. Here, however, the study may disrupt the mental health of the individual.

To minimize the risk, the researcher should first have a signed consent form from the participants. The consent form should also mention in detail that there may be deception involved. Also, when the researcher notices extreme behavior among the participant, it should be stopped. The time gap should be healthy enough that no major complications can be noticed. Also after the experiment, they should be told about the experiment in detail and the researchers should make sure that the participant is alright. Giving relaxation at the end can prove to be beneficial.