Which of the following statements best describes the timeframe during which ethical considerations apply in psychological research?

Research ethics are not a one-time event but a continuous process throughout a study's lifecycle. Match each phase of the research process with the specific ethical responsibility that characterizes that stage.

A psychologist is conducting a study on the effects of sleep deprivation on cognitive performance. Arrange the following ethical actions in the order they should occur to demonstrate the continuous nature of research ethics throughout the study's lifecycle, from initial planning to the post-publication phase.

Based on the principle of the continuous nature of research ethics, if a psychologist ensures the safety and dignity of their participants during data collection, any subsequent decisions regarding how to report results—such as omitting non-significant findings where $p > .05$—are considered purely technical rather than ethical in nature.

Ethical considerations in psychological research conclude once a study's data collection phase is over.

Which of the following best describes what is meant by the 'continuous nature' of research ethics in psychology?

A researcher argues that because their study's data collection is complete and all participants have been safely debriefed, any subsequent decisions regarding the exclusion of data points to achieve significant results are 'purely technical' rather than ethical. This evaluation is fundamentally flawed because it fails to recognize the _____ nature of research ethics, which dictates that ethical responsibilities extend through the analysis, publication, and even post-publication stages of the research lifecycle.

A research methods professor asks students to review brief descriptions of researcher decisions. Match each researcher action to the phase of the research process during which that ethical issue primarily arises.

A psychology researcher obtains proper IRB approval and collects data using valid informed-consent procedures. However, during the write-up she reports only statistically significant outcomes and omits null findings that contradict her hypothesis. Breaking down this scenario reveals that she has committed an ethical violation even though data collection was handled correctly, because research ethics are _____ in nature—meaning obligations persist through every phase from design to publication and beyond.

A psychologist is planning and conducting a study on social media use and loneliness in college students. Evaluate the ethical importance of each action below and rank them in the order they must occur across the full research lifecycle to uphold the continuous nature of research ethics. (1 = first action that must occur; 5 = last.)

According to the principle of the continuous nature of research ethics, during which specific phases of the research process do ethical considerations arise? State the phases in chronological order starting from before data collection begins through the end of the study's lifecycle.

Explain why the researcher's reasoning is incorrect. In your explanation, identify which specific stages of the research lifecycle are associated with the ongoing ethical decisions the team must make in this scenario.

Imagine you are planning a research study to evaluate a new cognitive training program for older adults. Describe one concrete ethical decision you must make during the initial planning phase before you begin recruiting participants, and one concrete ethical decision you must make after you have finished analyzing the data.