Institutional Review Board
An institutional review board is a committee required by federal regulations for universities, hospitals, and other institutions receiving federal support. Its responsibility is to review research protocols for potential ethical problems, ensuring that risks are minimized, benefits outweigh risks, research is conducted fairly, and informed consent procedures are adequate. The board must consist of at least five people with diverse backgrounds, including scientists and nonscientists, men and women, various professions, and at least one person unaffiliated with the institution.
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Ch.1 Introduction to Psychology - Psychology @ OpenStax
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Psychology @ OpenStax
Ch.2 Psychological Research - Psychology @ OpenStax
OpenStax Psychology (2nd ed.) Textbook
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Research Methods in Psychology - 4th American Edition @ KPU
Ch.1 An Invisible World - Microbiology @ OpenStax
Microbiology @ OpenStax
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Debriefing
Informed Consent
Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC)
Deception in Research
A researcher is studying the impact of stress on cognitive performance. Participants are informed at the beginning that they are free to stop at any time. Midway through the study, one participant finds the tasks too stressful and asks to leave. The researcher responds, 'We really need your data to get valid results. Please try to continue for just a bit longer.' Which fundamental ethical obligation is the researcher failing to uphold in this interaction?
Ethical Research Framework
Institutional Review Board
Confidentiality
The MMR Vaccine and Autism Controversy
APA Ethics Code
Financial Conflict of Interest in Research
Moral Principles of Scientific Research
Unapproved and Medically Unnecessary Procedures
Revocation of Medical License
Which of the following best describes the nature of ethical standards in psychological research?
Match each ethical concept in psychological research with the description that best reflects its role in modern scientific practice.
Dr. Aris is designing a new laboratory study to investigate how social pressure affects decision-making in teenagers. To ensure the research adheres to contemporary ethical standards, arrange the following steps in the correct chronological order as Dr. Aris moves from design to implementation.
In psychological research, the dynamic nature of ethical standards means that a methodology's historical acceptance in the scientific literature serves as a sufficient ethical justification for its use in modern studies, even if it conflicts with current institutional guidelines.
Contemporary psychological researchers are required to follow established ethical guidelines primarily to ensure that their work respects which of the following?
In contemporary psychological research, ethical guidelines are intended to be used as a 'final checklist' to be completed only after the study's core design and implementation have been finalized.
A researcher argues that a research protocol is ethically sound simply because it replicates a 'classic' study from the 1960s. This justification is flawed because ethical standards in psychology are _____, requiring researchers to prioritize contemporary guidelines that respect human dignity and safety.
A junior researcher is reviewing five proposed study procedures and must identify the primary ethical concern each one raises. Match each scenario to the contemporary ethical issue it most clearly violates.
An ethics review board is analyzing why a landmark 1960s obedience study — celebrated at publication for advancing psychological science — would be denied approval under today's guidelines. The board determines that exposing participants to extreme psychological distress without adequate protections directly conflicts with _____ ethical standards, and that the study's prior acceptance in the scientific literature provides no justification for replicating those methods in contemporary research.
Dr. Rivera is conducting an ongoing laboratory study on stress and memory. Midway through data collection she discovers that one of her procedures, approved five years ago, conflicts with newly revised APA ethical guidelines that more strictly protect participant dignity and safety. Evaluate the following actions and arrange them in the order Dr. Rivera should carry them out to resolve this ethical conflict in a manner consistent with contemporary research standards.
Explain the dynamic nature of ethical standards in psychological research, and describe the requirements contemporary researchers must follow to protect human participants.
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.
Dr. Miller is planning a laboratory experiment on stress. He decides to finalize the experimental procedure first and then review the protocol afterward to see if any ethical adjustments are needed. Apply contemporary research guidelines to explain why Dr. Miller's planning sequence is ethically problematic.
Which of the following statements best describes the nature of ethical standards in psychological research?
Ethical standards in psychological research are fixed and remain unchanging once they have been formally established.
Match each research scenario to the principle of research ethics it best illustrates.
Analyze the relationship between evolving ethical standards and the psychological research process. Arrange the following steps to demonstrate the logical sequence a contemporary researcher must follow to successfully integrate dynamic ethical standards into a study involving human participants.
To justify rejecting a research proposal that exactly copies a famous 1960s experiment involving high psychological stress, a reviewer must base their evaluation on the principle that ethical standards are ____, meaning past acceptability does not validate modern procedures.
According to contemporary guidelines for psychological research, when must ethical considerations be integrated into a study?
If a historically significant psychological study was ethically approved when it was first conducted, a contemporary researcher is guaranteed that replicating its exact procedures will meet today's ethical guidelines.
Dr. Lin is preparing to replicate a prominent 1960s psychology experiment. In the original study, human participants were subjected to high levels of stress, which was considered an acceptable procedure at the time. To apply contemporary ethical standards to her new research, which approach must Dr. Lin take?
Analyze the components of contemporary research ethics. Match each flawed research scenario to the specific ethical principle it primarily violates.
A review board is evaluating two proposed research designs involving human participants. Design X integrates continuous monitoring of participant well-being into its methodology, allowing procedures to be adjusted if distress occurs. Design Y relies strictly on a one-time consent form, arguing that initial agreement completely fulfills the researcher's ethical obligations. Based on the concept of contemporary research ethics, which statement provides the most valid evaluation of these designs?
Institutional Review Board
According to the Federal Policy for the Protection of Human Subjects, what is an extremely important mandate for institutions that receive federal support for research?
The regulations outlined in the Federal Policy for the Protection of Human Subjects apply universally to all psychological research, regardless of how it is funded or regulated.
A research ethics officer is reviewing new projects to ensure compliance with the Federal Policy for the Protection of Human Subjects. Match each research scenario with the specific reason or mandate that applies to it under these regulations.
A psychology department is preparing to launch several new studies. Arrange the following steps in the correct logical sequence to illustrate how the Federal Policy for the Protection of Human Subjects creates a chain of authority from the source of the mandate down to the review of a specific experiment.
The regulations outlined in the Federal Policy for the Protection of Human Subjects apply to which category of research?
Under the Federal Policy for the Protection of Human Subjects, which statement best describes how the mandate for an Institutional Review Board (IRB) is applied to institutions conducting research?
When judging whether a university is legally eligible to receive federal funding for psychological research, the most critical infrastructure requirement of the Federal Policy for the Protection of Human Subjects that must be present is a(n) _____.
Dr. Smith is designing a survey study on stress at a private research firm that is funded entirely by corporate sponsors and is not regulated by any government agency. True or False: Under the Federal Policy for the Protection of Human Subjects, Dr. Smith's firm is legally required to establish an institutional review board to evaluate this research protocol.
Analyze the components of the Federal Policy for the Protection of Human Subjects by matching each key concept with its correct description or legal role under the policy.
A university compliance officer is evaluating a research program that receives federal funding. The officer determines that the program is non-compliant with the Federal Policy for the Protection of Human Subjects because the university has failed to establish an _____ to evaluate its research protocols.
Based on the Federal Policy for the Protection of Human Subjects, state the foundational document these laws are built upon, define the scope of research to which these regulations apply, and identify the primary administrative requirement mandated for institutions receiving federal support.
Explain whether the research team must comply with the Federal Policy for the Protection of Human Subjects, and describe the institutional requirement mandated by this policy that the university must implement to evaluate the study's protocol.
Learn After
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
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 psychology professors and the university’s Director of Human Resources. This committee satisfies the federal requirement of having at least 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
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 r
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 o
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 mi