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Explain why this study qualifies as 'minimal risk' and justify whether the study is ethically permissible under the minimal risk principle despite having no direct benefits for the participants.
Case context: A cognitive psychology student wants to study memory by asking undergraduate participants to complete a short, 10-minute online word-association game. The task is similar to online word games participants play regularly for recreation. The study aims to provide a minor contribution to the existing scientific literature on memory association, but offers no direct benefits or compensation to the participants.
Question: Explain why this study qualifies as 'minimal risk' and justify whether the study is ethically permissible under the minimal risk principle despite having no direct benefits for the participants.
Sample answer: The study qualifies as minimal risk because completing a 10-minute online word game poses no more risk or potential harm than what participants encounter in daily life (such as recreational gaming). Under the minimal risk principle, the study is ethically justified because even a small anticipated benefit to science (making a minor contribution to memory literature) is sufficient to justify research that presents only minimal risk, even if there are no direct benefits to the participants themselves.
Key points:
- Connect the online word-association task to risks encountered in daily life.
- Identify the minor contribution to memory literature as a small anticipated benefit to science.
- Explain that direct benefit to the participant is not required if there is a benefit to science or society.
- Conclude that the study is ethically justified under the minimal risk principle.
Rubric: To receive full credit, the response must identify that the task aligns with daily life risks (minimal risk) and explain that a small benefit to science is sufficient to ethically justify the study even without direct participant benefits.
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Research Methods in Psychology - 4th American Edition @ KPU
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