Case Study

Based on the foundational framework for research ethics, justify why the IRB relies specifically on these four moral principles as their starting point rather than creating a new ethical framework for this specific proposed experiment.

Case context: A university's Institutional Review Board (IRB) is evaluating a newly proposed psychological experiment. The board members begin their ethical assessment by applying four fundamental ideas: weighing risks against benefits, acting with integrity, seeking justice, and respecting people's rights and dignity.

Question: Based on the foundational framework for research ethics, justify why the IRB relies specifically on these four moral principles as their starting point rather than creating a new ethical framework for this specific proposed experiment.

Sample answer: The IRB relies on these four moral principles as a starting point because they are fundamental ideas that essentially everyone agrees on. This widespread agreement makes them a universally accepted foundation for assessing how the study will impact participants, the scientific community, and society.

Key points:

  • The principles represent fundamental ideas.
  • Essentially everyone agrees on these four principles.
  • They provide a universally accepted starting point for ethical assessment.

Rubric: Full credit requires the student to explain that the principles serve as a starting point because they are universally accepted and essentially everyone agrees on them.

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Updated 2026-05-27

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Research Methods in Psychology - 4th American Edition @ KPU

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