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Diagnose the ethical flaw in the psychologist's reasoning based on the nature of ethical standards in research, and justify why contemporary researchers must modify historical research methods.
Case context: A psychologist plans to replicate a social psychology study from the 1970s. The original study used procedures that did not prioritize participant safety in the way modern studies do, but the psychologist argues that because the original study was widely published and accepted in its time, they do not need to alter the design to meet modern ethical guidelines.
Question: Diagnose the ethical flaw in the psychologist's reasoning based on the nature of ethical standards in research, and justify why contemporary researchers must modify historical research methods.
Sample answer: The psychologist's reasoning is flawed because ethical standards in research are dynamic and change over time. Historical acceptance does not guarantee that a research design is ethical today, as practices once viewed as acceptable may now be considered unethical. Under contemporary guidelines, the psychologist must modify the design to follow established ethical rules. They must protect the safety and dignity of human participants by integrating modern ethical considerations directly into the core design and implementation of the replication study.
Key points:
- Ethical standards change and evolve over time.
- Past acceptance of a research method does not mean it is acceptable today.
- Contemporary researchers must follow established guidelines to protect participant dignity and safety.
- Ethical considerations must be integrated into the core design and implementation of the replication.
Rubric: A comprehensive response should demonstrate understanding of: 1) The dynamic, evolving nature of ethical standards. 2) The fact that past acceptance does not justify modern application of unethical methods. 3) The requirement to protect human dignity and safety under modern guidelines. 4) The mandate to integrate ethics into the core design and implementation of the research.
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Research Methods in Psychology - 4th American Edition @ KPU
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