After a study has received initial ethics approval and data collection has begun, a researcher who wants to make a significant change to the research procedure must obtain additional formal approval from the ethics review board before implementing that change.

A psychology researcher determines that their experimental stimuli need to be updated to better test their hypothesis after the study has already begun. Arrange the steps the researcher must take to ethically modify their protocol.

Dr. Kim is halfway through a study investigating how peer pressure affects decision-making in teenagers. After reviewing early data, Dr. Kim decides to add a new physiological measure—galvanic skin response (GSR)—to better capture participants' emotional arousal. According to ethical standards for research, what is the most appropriate next step for Dr. Kim?

A psychology researcher is evaluating several proposed modifications to their ongoing study. Match each scenario with the correct ethical assessment and the rationale for that classification based on protocol approval standards.

When a researcher decides to make a non-minor modification to their psychological study after it has already begun, what is the required ethical procedure?

Under the ethical guidelines for protocol modification, a researcher must seek additional formal IRB approval for every change made to their study, including minor administrative adjustments like fixing a typographical error on a participant instruction sheet.

A psychology researcher adds an extra set of personality questions to an ongoing study, arguing that the addition is 'minor' and improves the study's scientific value. In evaluating the ethicality of this action, the researcher's self-assessment is insufficient because the protocol requires _____ from the Institutional Review Board before the modification is enacted.

Match each scenario of study modification with the correct regulatory requirement based on the ethical protocol guidelines.

A psychology researcher wants to update their experimental procedure after data collection has already begun. According to the guidelines for protocol adherence, the researcher must obtain additional formal approval from the IRB or ethics committee before implementing the modification if the change is classified as anything other than a _____ change.

A researcher has evaluated their ongoing study and determined that they must modify their research design to address a confound. Arrange the steps the researcher must take to ethically execute and implement this modification.