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Based on the rules of protocol adherence, diagnose the ethical issue in the researcher's decision to change the task length and explain what action they should have taken.
Case context: A researcher receives institutional approval to study the effects of caffeine on cognitive performance using a 5-minute visual attention task. During data collection, the researcher decides that a 15-minute task would provide more valid data and immediately implements the longer task with the next participant.
Question: Based on the rules of protocol adherence, diagnose the ethical issue in the researcher's decision to change the task length and explain what action they should have taken.
Sample answer: The researcher violated their ethical obligations by failing to adhere strictly to the approved protocol. Changing the task length from 5 minutes to 15 minutes is a significant adjustment, not a minor change. Rather than implementing the change immediately, the researcher should have sought additional approval from the institutional review board before introducing the modification.
Key points:
- The researcher failed to adhere strictly to the approved research protocol.
- Increasing the task time from 5 to 15 minutes is a significant adjustment rather than a minor change.
- The researcher is ethically obligated to obtain additional approval from the institutional review board before implementing such modifications.
- Ethical responsibilities regarding the protocol remain active throughout the duration of the study.
Rubric: The answer should identify that the researcher failed to adhere to the approved protocol, demonstrate comprehension that the task extension is a significant change, and explain that additional institutional review board approval must be secured prior to implementation.
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Research Methods in Psychology - 4th American Edition @ KPU
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