Ethical Review of a Research Proposal

A psychologist proposes a study to examine the effects of 48 hours of continuous sleep deprivation on the problem-solving skills of student volunteers. The proposal states that participants will be compensated and that the findings could have important implications for understanding workplace safety. When this proposal is submitted for review, what is the most critical issue the review committee responsible for protecting human participants will focus on?

Addressing IRB Concerns

Informed Consent Form

Minimal Risk

Institutional Approval

Expedited Research

Exempt Research

What is the primary responsibility of an Institutional Review Board (IRB)?

An Institutional Review Board (IRB) is permitted to consist entirely of scientific experts from the same university to ensure the most rigorous technical review of research protocols.

Match each specific research decision with the Institutional Review Board (IRB) ethical criterion it is designed to satisfy.

A psychologist proposes a study on the impact of social isolation on cognitive performance. Arrange the following ethical determinations in the logical order an Institutional Review Board (IRB) must perform them to satisfy the federal mandate of risk-benefit optimization.

A researcher argues that their university's Institutional Review Board (IRB) is 'unqualified' to review their neuroimaging study because one of the mandatory members is a local librarian with no scientific background. According to federal guidelines, this researcher's evaluation is ______ because the board is legally required to include at least one nonscientist to ensure that research protocols are viewed from a broad ethical perspective outside of the scientific community.

According to federal regulations, what is the minimum number of members required to form an Institutional Review Board (IRB), and what is one of the mandatory requirements for its composition?

Match each Institutional Review Board (IRB) requirement or function with its correct description based on federal ethical guidelines in psychological research.

A university forms an Institutional Review Board (IRB) composed of $4$ psychology professors and the university’s Director of Human Resources. This committee satisfies the federal requirement of having at least $1$ member who is unaffiliated with the institution.

A researcher submits a study design investigating the effects of sleep deprivation on cognitive performance. Arrange the steps an Institutional Review Board (IRB) takes to analyze and approve this research proposal in the correct logical order.

Suppose you are the director of a new research hospital and must establish its first Institutional Review Board (IRB) to oversee psychological and medical studies. Which of the following configurations successfully constructs a board that adheres to all federal requirements for diversity, scientific representation, and institutional independence?

Federal regulations require that an institutional review board be composed entirely of scientists in order to properly evaluate research protocols for potential ethical problems.

An Institutional Review Board (IRB) evaluates a research protocol where participants are initially deceived about the study's true purpose. The board approves the protocol only on the condition that participants receive a full explanation of the deception immediately following the session. In this scenario, the board is making a judgment that the modified _____ procedures are adequate to meet ethical standards for participant autonomy.

A newly established psychiatric hospital receiving federal funding is forming its first Institutional Review Board (IRB) to review proposed psychological studies. The hospital administration suggests a committee consisting of three clinical psychologists from the hospital staff, one hospital financial director, and one psychiatric nurse also employed by the hospital. Explain whether this proposed committee meets the federal composition requirements for an IRB, referencing specific criteria. Then, outline the primary responsibilities this committee will have once established.

Analyze this scenario from the perspective of an Institutional Review Board (IRB) reviewer. Diagnose the ethical shortcomings of the proposed research protocol based on the core criteria the IRB is responsible for ensuring. How should the board decide on this protocol, and what specific modifications should they require the researcher to make before granting approval?

A university researcher argues that since their study on student exam anxiety only uses an anonymous online survey and presents no physical risk, they do not need to submit their research protocol to the Institutional Review Board (IRB). Evaluate the validity of this researcher's argument based on federal IRB regulations.

Which of the following best describes the primary responsibility of an Institutional Review Board (IRB)?

A university researcher plans to conduct an experiment involving mild deception to study social conformity. Before the experiment can proceed, the researcher must submit the study's protocol to the university's ____ to ensure that the potential risks to participants are minimized and justified by the expected benefits.

An Institutional Review Board (IRB) is analyzing a new research protocol proposing a study on social stress. Match each specific observation or action made by the committee to the federal IRB requirement it is evaluating or fulfilling.

Which of the following is a requirement for the composition of an Institutional Review Board?

To ensure thorough evaluation of research protocols, an Institutional Review Board is required to be composed exclusively of scientists affiliated with the institution conducting the research.

Match each scenario from a university's Institutional Review Board (IRB) meeting to the specific IRB responsibility or composition requirement it demonstrates.

A university receiving federal funding is assembling an Institutional Review Board (IRB) to oversee new psychology studies. The proposed five-member committee consists of: Dr. Rivera (a female psychology professor at the university), Dr. Chen (a male biology professor at the university), Mr. Thompson (a male university facilities manager), Ms. Jenkins (a female university legal counsel), and Dr. Smith (a male sociology professor at the university). Analyzing this proposed board against federal requirements, why would this committee be rejected?

Dr. Ahmed submits a research protocol to test a new intervention for severe anxiety. The procedure carries a known risk of triggering intense panic attacks. To prevent high dropout rates, Dr. Ahmed plans to omit this risk from the consent form. Additionally, he plans to recruit exclusively from a local homeless shelter by offering a $500 incentive per participant. As an Institutional Review Board (IRB) member evaluating this protocol, what is the most appropriate judgment?

The committee required by federal regulations at universities and hospitals to review research protocols for potential ethical problems is known as an ____.

Based on the role and requirements of an Institutional Review Board (IRB), which of the following best summarizes its primary function and structure?

Dr. Lee is planning a new psychological study at a university that receives federal support. Arrange the following steps in the logical chronological order to demonstrate how Dr. Lee and the Institutional Review Board (IRB) must interact to ensure ethical compliance.

Analyze the following actions taken by a researcher when preparing a protocol for an Institutional Review Board (IRB). Match each specific IRB responsibility to the researcher action that best fulfills it.

A researcher submits a protocol for a study that poses significant psychological risks to participants but offers no potential benefits. If the researcher's informed consent procedures are exceptionally thorough and explicitly detail all possible harms, the Institutional Review Board (IRB) should approve the study because participants' right to informed choice has been fully satisfied.

According to federal regulations, which of the following is a requirement for the membership composition of an Institutional Review Board (IRB)?

A university that receives federal support can establish an Institutional Review Board composed entirely of its own internal research scientists.

A university is establishing an Institutional Review Board (IRB) to oversee psychological research. Match each proposed scenario to the specific IRB regulation it involves.

A university receiving federal support forms a committee to review the ethical protocols of a proposed psychological study. The committee is composed of five members: two male psychology professors, one female biology professor, and two female university attorneys. Based on federal regulations for an Institutional Review Board (IRB), why is this committee's composition currently invalid?

A university receives federal funding and establishes an Institutional Review Board (IRB) to oversee a proposed psychological study on stress. The proposed IRB consists of three male psychology professors, one female biology professor, and one male university ethicist (a nonscientist). The committee meticulously reviews the study, successfully ensuring that risks are minimized, benefits outweigh risks, and informed consent procedures are adequate. As an external auditor evaluating the validity of this IRB approval process, what is the most accurate judgment?

A committee required by federal regulations for institutions receiving federal support, whose responsibility is to review research protocols for potential ethical problems, is known as an ____.

Arrange the following steps to demonstrate the logical sequence of how an Institutional Review Board (IRB) is established and fulfills its ethical oversight responsibilities in psychological research.

A researcher at a federally funded university proposes a psychological study that carries significant risks to participants but offers almost no potential scientific benefits. As long as the researcher provides a comprehensive informed consent form that explicitly warns participants of every risk, the Institutional Review Board will approve the research protocol.

An Institutional Review Board (IRB) is evaluating a comprehensive psychological research protocol. Analyze the following excerpts from the protocol and match each one to the specific IRB ethical responsibility it is designed to address.

You are serving on an Institutional Review Board (IRB) evaluating a proposed psychological study on memory. The researcher plans to ask college students to recall traumatic childhood events. The researcher's protocol ensures strict confidentiality, uses a fair participant selection process, and includes a comprehensive informed consent form that clearly warns participants of the severe emotional distress they might experience. However, the anticipated scientific benefits of the study are only minor, and the researcher has not included any provisions for psychological counseling to help minimize the emotional risks. Based on the responsibilities of an IRB, what is the most appropriate evaluation of this research protocol?