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A psychological researcher has institutional approval to conduct a study where participants view pictures of household objects. The researcher decides mid-study to change the stimulus to pictures of aggressive animals to investigate a different emotional response. Apply the rules of protocol adherence to state what the researcher must do before executing this change.

Question: A psychological researcher has institutional approval to conduct a study where participants view pictures of household objects. The researcher decides mid-study to change the stimulus to pictures of aggressive animals to investigate a different emotional response. Apply the rules of protocol adherence to state what the researcher must do before executing this change.

Sample answer: Because changing the stimulus from household objects to aggressive animals is a significant adjustment that goes beyond a minor change, the researcher is ethically required to submit this modification to the institutional review board and obtain additional approval before implementing it in the study.

Key points:

  • Classify the shift in stimulus type as a significant adjustment that goes beyond a minor change.
  • State the requirement to seek additional approval from the institutional review board.
  • Specify that this approval must be obtained prior to implementing the modification in the active study.

Rubric: The response must apply the rule of protocol adherence by identifying the change as a significant adjustment and stating that the researcher must seek and obtain additional approval from the institutional review board before making the change.

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Updated 2026-05-26

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Research Methods in Psychology - 4th American Edition @ KPU

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