Ch6 Exam Prep Research Ethics

Chapter 6: Research Ethics

Learning Objectives

1. Explain why it is necessary to consider ethical issues when designing and conducting research.
2. State the guidelines that must be followed in conducting research with humans.
3. Explain the procedures that must be followed to obtain approval to conduct a study.
4. Specify the issues involved in conducting research with minors.

Multiple Choice

1. The deontological approach to ethics, argues that:

a. There are no universal ethical codes

b. Ethical judgments depend on culture and time

c. Ethical judgments are dependent on costs and benefits

d. Ethics must be judged by a universal moral code

Learning Objective: 1

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: What Are Research Ethics?

Difficulty Level: Easy

2. Societal concerns and cultural values:

a. Should not be considered by researchers

b. Impact the funding of research projects

c. Must be included in informed consent documents

d. Lead to research misconduct

Learning Objective: 1

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Relationship between Society and Science

Difficulty Level: Easy

3. Generally, a study is ethical to perform if:

a. The benefits outweigh the costs associated with the study

b. The costs outweigh the benefits associated with the study

c. There is at least one benefit from the study

d. The study will advance knowledge regardless of the costs

Learning Objective: 1

Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: What are Research Ethics

Difficulty Level: Medium

4. If, when writing a research report, you presented data that had been fabricated and had plagiarized some of the material presented in the research report, you would have, from a research ethics perspective:

a. Committed a sin

b. Engaged in research misconduct

c. Committed a misdemeanor

d. Committed a criminal act

Learning Objective: 1

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Professional Issues

Difficulty Level: Medium

5. Which of the following is necessary in obtaining informed consent?

a. A description of the statistical analyses that will be carried out

b. A description of the reliability and validity of test instruments

c. A list of publications that the researcher has had in the last 10 years

d. A description of the risks and benefits associated with participation

Learning Objective: 2

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Informed Consent

Difficulty Level: Medium

6. Which of the following is necessary in obtaining informed consent?

a. A description of the statistical analyses that will be carried out

b. A description of the purpose of the research

c. A description of the reliability and validity of test instruments

d. A list of publications that the researcher has had in the last 10 years

Learning Objective: 2, 3

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Informed Consent

Difficulty Level: Easy

7. When informed consent has been received, confidentiality can be breached if:

a. The participant reveals information about child abuse or neglect

b. The participant withdraws from the study

c. The research is conducted on the internet

Learning Objective: 2, 3

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Confidentiality, Anonymity, and the Concept of Privacy

Difficulty Level: Medium

Use the following to answer questions 8–9:
You are invited to participate in a study comparing two different memory strategies. You will be assigned to one of two groups of participants. The study should take only 30 minutes of your time. There are no risks associated with your participation in this study. There are no benefits to you personally for participating in this study. However, results will be used to help us advance knowledge about which memory strategies work better.
Thank you for your time
Sincerely,
John Doe, Professor

8. Read the sample from above. Which of the following is found within this informed consent?

a. The amount of time the study generally takes

b. A complete description of the research procedures

c. A description of what will be done to maintain confidentiality

d. A statement that participation is voluntary

Learning Objective: 2, 3

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Informed Consent

Difficulty Level: Easy

9. Read the sample from above. Which of the following was missing from this informed consent?

a. The amount of time the study generally takes.

b. A statement about the risks associated with participation.

c. A statement about the benefits associated with participation.

d. A statement that participation is voluntary.

Learning Objective: 2, 3

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Informed Consent

Difficulty Level: Easy

10. If a child’s parent gives consent for a child to participate and the child refuses to participate in the study?

a. His or her parents can override the child’s objection

b. A teacher can override a child’s objections

c. The researcher should obey the wishes of the child

d. The child still must participate

Learning Objective: 4

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Informed Consent and Minors as Research Participants

Difficulty Level: Easy

11. Which of the following is true about the use of deception in research?

a. It should never be used

b. It should be used in every research study

c. Researchers do not need to disclose their use of deception

d. The use of deception must be outweighed by other benefits of the study

Learning Objective: 1, 3

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Deception

Difficulty Level: Medium

12. Dehoaxing refers to:

a. Helping to squelch rumors about research

b. Helping participants get over any stress from being deceived

c. Telling participants about any deception and why it was used in the study

d. A form of deception

Learning Objective: 1,2

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Deception

Difficulty Level: Easy

13. Joey’s parents filled out a questionnaire on parental involvement at his school. There was no identifying information asked for on the form. This was done to protect Joey’s parents’:

a. Right to informed consent

b. Right to know how much time the study will take

c. Right to be deceived

d. Right to anonymity

Learning Objective: 2, 3

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Confidentiality, Anonymity, and the Concept of Privacy

Difficulty Level: Medium

14. Confidentiality refers to:

a. Protecting the identity of research participants from anyone other than the researcher and his or her team

b. Keeping the participants’ identity unknown to both the researcher and others

c. Not telling participants about the use of deception in a study

d. Not reporting the research results

Learning Objective: 2

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Confidentiality, Anonymity, and the Concept of Privacy

Difficulty Level: Medium

15. Which of the following generally cannot be done in qualitative studies conducted in the field?

a. Getting informed consent

b. Keeping participants from physical harm

c. Maintaining consent forms

d. Having full anonymity rather than just confidentiality

Learning Objective: 1, 2

Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Confidentiality, Anonymity, and the Concept of Privacy

Difficulty Level: Hard

16. Research involving human participants at universities and other research institutions is reviewed by:

a. Academic deans

b. Institutional Review Boards

c. The National Science Foundation

d. The National Institute for Mental Health

Learning Objective: 3

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Institutional Review Board

Difficulty Level: Easy

17. Which of the following is often exempt from full IRB review?

a. Research done in established or commonly accepted educational settings

b. Research on sensitive issues such as sexuality

c. Research with special populations such as people with mental retardation

d. Research where responses could have legal consequences

Learning Objective: 3

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Institutional Review Board (Table 6.4)

Difficulty Level: Medium

18. If you assessed the ethics of a research study by weighing the costs of the research relative to the benefits that would accrue, you would have used which ethical approach?

a. Utilitarianism

b. Deontology

c. Ethical skepticism

d. Comparativeism

Learning Objective: 1

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: What are Research Ethics

Difficulty Level: Medium

19. Although research misconduct is an important ethical issue, a researcher’s most fundamental ethical concern should be:

a. Seeking knowledge first and foremost

b. The treatment of the research participant

c. Making sure that the research topic is a good one

d. Insuring that the study does not involve any deception

Learning Objective: 1, 2

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Treatment of Research Participants

Difficulty Level: Medium

20. Informed consent involves:

a. Telling the participant everything about the study that could affect his or her willingness to participate

b. Telling the participant that he or she is going to participate in a research study

c. Telling the participant that the study may or may not involve emotional or physical discomfort

d. Telling the participant that federal law may require that the information in the study be revealed in a court of law

Learning Objective: 2, 3

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Informed Consent

Difficulty Level: Medium

21. Informed consent can be waived if:

a. The research carries more than minimal risk

b. Obtaining consent might affect the rights and welfare of the participants

c. The study involves young children

d. The study involves deception

Learning Objective: 2,3

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Informed Consent

Difficulty Level: Medium

22. Joe’s action research study focuses on interviews focused on the social groupings of middle school students. To ethically conduct the study, Joe:

a. Only needs parents’ agreement that their children can participate.

b. Must obtain student assent must be obtained after parent approval is given.

c. Can force students, whose parents have consented, to participate even if they do not want to.

d. Needs to switch his research participants to adults because he cannot study minors.

Learning Objective: 3, 4

Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Informed Consent and Minors as Research Participants

Difficulty Level: Medium

23. If you have obtained the consent of a parent or guardian by requesting them to return the consent form only if they do NOT want their child participate in a research study, you will have:

a. Obtained passive consent

b. Obtained active consent

c. Violated the principle of informed consent

d. Used an inappropriate procedure for obtaining informed consent

Learning Objective: 3, 4

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Informed Consent and Minors as Research Participants

Difficulty Level: Medium

24. After completing his study, Dr. Good conducted an interview with each research participant in which he told them about the study. This is an example of:

a. Obtaining active consent

b. A debriefing activity

c. Obtaining passive consent

d. A clinical procedure

Learning Objective: 2,3

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Deception

Difficulty Level: Easy

25. If you have conducted a research study in which you have followed a procedure insuring that the identity of the research participants cannot be identified by anyone, you have:

a. Insured confidentiality

b. Insured validity of the study

c. Insured anonymity

d. Insured an avoidance of harm

Learning Objective: 2

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Confidentiality, Anonymity, and the Concept of Privacy

Difficulty Level: Medium

26. When reviewing research protocols for their ethical appropriateness, the IRB:

a. Makes sure that no harm can possibly come to the participants

b. Makes sure that all participants benefit from the study

c. Makes sure that no deception is used in the study

d. Weighs the risk of harm in relation to the potential benefits that might come from the study

Learning Objective: 3

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Institutional Review Board

Difficulty Level: Medium

27. _____ is the process by which a study with minimal or no risk is rapidly reviewed by fewer members than constitute the full IRB board.

a. Committee review

b. Full board review

c. Expedited review

d. Rapid review

Learning Objective: 3

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Institutional Review Board

Difficulty Level: Easy

28. The determination as to whether a study falls into the exempt category is made by:

a. The IRB

b. The lead researcher

c. The research team

d. The participants

Learning Objective: 3

Cognitive Domain: comprehension

Answer Location: Institutional Review Board

Difficulty Level: Medium

29. _____ refers to controlling other people’s access to information about a person.

a. Privacy

b. Anonymity

c. Secrecy

d. Seclusion

Learning Objective: 1, 3

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Confidentiality, Anonymity, and the Concept of Privacy

Difficulty Level: Easy

30. One of the difficult ethical issues to contend with when doing Internet research is the issue of obtaining informed consent and when informed consent should be obtained. One of the thorny issues is determining what information is public and what information is private. Which of the following is definitely within the public domain and does not need informed consent?

a. Information obtained from a television program aired over the Internet

b. Information obtained from newsgroups communicating over the Internet

c. Information obtained from chat rooms held over the Internet

d. Information obtained from listservs on the Internet

Learning Objective: 1, 3

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Privacy and the Internet

Difficulty Level: Medium

31. While Internet research can create difficulties in effectively debriefing research participants, there are several options researchers can use to increase the chances that debriefing is available for participants who terminate the study early. Which of the following is NOT one of these options?

a. Have the participant provide an email address so that a debriefing statement can be sent to them

b. Put the debriefing statement at the end of the experiment

c. Provide a “leave the study” radio button on every page that will direct the participant to a debriefing page

d. Incorporate a debriefing page into the program driving the study that automatically directs them to the debriefing page if they terminate the study early

Learning Objective: 2

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Debriefing and Internet Research

Difficulty Level: Medium

32. Misleading or withholding information from the research participant about a research study is known as:

a. Deception

b. Debriefing

c. Dehoaxing

d. Desensitizing

Learning Objective: 1,2

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Deception

Difficulty Level: Easy

33. Helping study participants deal with and eliminate any stress or other undesirable feelings that the study might have created is known as:

a. Deception

b. Dehoaxing

c. Desensitizing

d. Debriefing

Learning Objective: 1, 2

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Deception

Difficulty Level: Easy

34. Carol has just completed her participation in a research study. Before she leaves the graduate student whom was present during the experiment explained the real purpose of the study as well as why he did not tell her the whole truth about the study at the beginning. He also asked her if she had any questions and he answered the one question she had.

This is an example of:

a. Deception

b. Debriefing

c. Dehoaxing

d. Desensitizing

Learning Objective: 1, 2

Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Deception

Difficulty Level: Medium

35. A nurse who works in a clinic has been asked by the doctor who owns the clinic to participate in a study he is conducting. She agrees to participate but and later wishes to leave the study but feels uncomfortable asking to do so. This is an example of:

a. Fundamental ambiguity principle

b. Coercive pressure to participate

c. Participatory rights syndrome

d. Breach of confidentiality

Learning Objective: 1, 2

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Freedom to Withdraw

Difficulty Level: Medium

36. What type of IRB review would be required for research involving the relative effectiveness of classroom management procedures in an elementary school classroom?

a. Full board

b. Expedited

c. Exempt

d. None

Learning Objective: 3

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Institutional Review Board

Difficulty Level: Medium

37. Wendy is planning a descriptive study of the behavior of teen-age students who are prisoners in juvenile detention facilities. What type of IRB review will her study need?

a. There is no need for the IRB to review the study

b. Exempt review

c. Expedited review

d. Full Board review

Learning Objective: 3

Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Institutional Review Board

Difficulty Level: Hard

38. Expedited IRB review is typically used for:

a. Studies that include more than minimal risk

b. Studies conducted in educational settings

c. Studies that include no more than minimal risk

d. Studies that involve no risks

Learning Objective: 3

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Institutional Review Board

Difficulty Level: Easy

39. In writing her research proposal, Andrea took ideas from one of the articles she read and did not cite the author. This is an example of:

a. Passive Consent

b. Maleficence

c. Beneficence

d. Plaigiarism

Learning Objective: 1

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Writing the Research Report

Difficulty Level: Medium

40. Karen is planning a study where she looks at high school students’ transcripts to look at the on-time graduation rates for students from different middle schools. She will not identify either the students nor middle schools by name. The IRB review this study should be:

a. Full Board

b. Expedited

c. Exempt

d. This study does not need to be reviewed by the IRB

Learning Objective: 4

Cognitive Domain: application

Answer Location: Institutional Review Board

Difficulty Level: Medium

41. Haley’s second-grade teacher sent home a consent form with her. A researcher at the local university wants to interview students about their enjoyment of reading. When the researcher got the consent form back, she noticed that Hayley had signed the consent form. What should the researcher do?

a. Send out the consent form again and request a parent signature

b. Accept the returned consent form as is

c. Give the signed consent form to the IRB to see if it is acceptable

d. Allow Haley to participate in the interviews

Learning Objective: 4

Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Informed Consent and Minors as Research Participants

Difficulty Level: Medium

42. Typically, children are capable of giving consent at what age?

a. Only when they are able to talk

b. At any age

c. Five years old

d. 16 years old

Learning Objective: 4

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Informed Consent and Minors as Research Participants

Difficulty Level: Medium

43. The American Educational Research Association has developed principles for educational researchers. They focus on:

a. Research with children only

b. Striving to protect vulnerable populations

c. Recommending qualitative and not quantitative research

d. Getting student assent

Learning Objective: 2

Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Informed Consent and Minors as Research Participants

Difficulty Level: Medium

44. Assent is:

a. Not needed for research to occur

b. Agreeing to participate in a study after learning about its purpose and how data will be handled

c. Agreeing to participate in a study after learning about factors that could limit the participant’s willingness to participate

d. The same as providing consent

Learning Objective: 2

Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Informed Consent and Minors as Research Participants

Difficulty Level: Medium

45. Informed consent forms do NOT need to contain information on:

a. Potential risks

b. Potential benefits

c. The voluntary nature of participation

d. Where the results of the research will be published

Learning Objective: 4

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Informed Consent

Difficulty Level: Medium

46. Informed consent forms:

a. Should be written at most an 8th grade reading level.

b. Are needed for every research study

c. Are never needed for educational research

d. Must be anonymous

Learning Objective: 2

Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Informed Consent and Minors as Research Participants

Difficulty Level: Hard

47. Plagiarism:

a. Is doing harm to someone else

b. Only involves improperly quoting someone else

c. Only involves using someone else’s words

d. Can include using someone else’s ideas

Learning Objective: 4

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Writing the Research Report

Difficulty Level: Medium

48. Carol has been working on writing a research report. She is considering who should be considered authors on the report. Ethically, authorship is awarded to individuals who:

a. Made substantial contributions to the conceptualization of the study

b. Edited and typed an initial draft of the research report

c. Participated in the research study even if their data are quoted

d. Have collected data for the project

Learning Objective: 1

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Authorship

Difficulty Level: Medium

49. Studies involving children can receive exempt IRB review if:

a. The children are older than 15

b. The study is conducted in children’s homes

c. The children are too young to consent

d. The research involves observation and not intervention

Learning Objective: 4

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Institutional Review Board

Difficulty Level: Medium

50. Full Board IRB review is required for projects that:

a. Present more than minimal risk

b. Involve the use of standard educational tests

c. Have data from video recordings made for research purposes

d. Involve minimal risk

Learning Objective: 3

Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Institutional Review Board

Difficulty Level: Hard

True/False:

1. If a survey is conducted on an educational research topic and a student voluntarily gives unexpected information such as he or she is being subjected to physical or sexual abuse, then the researcher is ethically bound to address the issue in some form or fashion.

a. True

b. False

Learning Objective: 1, 2

Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Treatment of Research Participants

Difficulty Level: Medium

2. It is standard practice to obtain informed consent from adults verbally only.

a. True

b. False

Learning Objective: 2

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Informed Consent

Difficulty Level: Medium

3. It is the researcher, not the IRB, who decides whether a research study falls into the exempt category and does not need full IRB board review.

a. True

b. False

Learning Objective: 3

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Institutional Review Board

Difficulty Level: Easy

4. Ethically speaking, it is important that research participants feel free to withdraw from a study at any time.

a. True

b. False

Learning Objective: 1, 2, 3

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Freedom to Withdraw

Difficulty Level: Easy

5. Students are sometimes given class credit for research participation. An ethical issue raised here has to do with coercion. Unless there are other alternatives for this credit, students will feel compelled to participate in research. Hence, universities and colleges generally require alternatives be provided to research participation for students receiving class credit.

a. True

b. False

Learning Objective: 2

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Freedom to Withdraw

Difficulty Level: Medium

6. Researchers should gain assent from each child in addition to parental consent when children are the research participants in a research study.

a. True

b. False

Learning Objective: 4

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Informed Consent and Minors as Research Participants

Difficulty Level: Easy

7. Plagiarizing yourself is not possible since you are aware of what you have written in the past and are obviously giving permission for the work to be used in its present context.

a. True

b. False

Learning Objective: 1

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Writing the Research Report

Difficulty Level: Medium

8. One way to minimize the problem in online research of the researcher not being available 24 hours a day to answer questions is for the researchers to make a Frequently Asked Questions list available to participants who have questions at times when the researcher is not available.

a. True

b. False

Learning Objective: 1, 2

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Informed Consent and Internet Research

Difficulty Level: Easy

9. Because qualitative research is more common than in the past, most IRB members make a point of being as familiar with the requirements for this type of research as for quantitative research.

a. True

b. False

Learning Objective: 3

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Institutional Review Board

Difficulty Level: Medium

10. Because the Internet provides such a wealth of resources that a participant in an online research study can visit to receive information, the one part of Internet research that is not needed is debriefing.

a. True

b. False

Learning Objective: 2

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Debriefing and Internet Research

Difficulty Level: Easy

11. Although more than one organization might set ethical standards for educational research, the American Educational Research Association is considered by most to be the principal organization responsible for developing the standards by which most education researchers should operate.

a. True

b. False

Learning Objective: 1, 2

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Ethical Guidelines for Research With Humans

Difficulty Level: Medium

12. In the field of educational research, ethical issues are not an area of concern because educational research does not cause harm to participants.

a. True

b. False

Learning Objective: 2

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension or Analysis

Answer Location: Treatment of Research Participants

Difficulty Level: Medium

13. Authorship is granted to individuals who have made substantive contributions to any phase of a research study.

a. True

b. False

Learning Objective: 1

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Authorship

Difficulty Level: Easy

14. According to the book, the forms of research misconduct differ in terms of their seriousness.

a. True

b. False

Learning Objective: 2

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Authorship

Difficulty Level: Medium

Essay

1. Describe the precautions that are put in place for research involving minors.

Learning Objective: 4

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Informed Consent an Minors as Research Participants
Difficulty Level: Medium

1. Describe when exempt, expedited, and full board reviews must be completed by the IRB.

Learning Objective: 3

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Institutional Review Board
Difficulty Level: Hard

1. What elements must be included in a consent form for an adult college student participating in research study of a new math tutoring program?

Learning Objective: 2, 3

Cognitive Domain: knowledge

Answer Location: Informed consent
Difficulty Level: Medium

1. Compare and contrast confidentiality, anonymity, and privacy.

Learning Objective: 2

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Confidentiality, Anonymity, and the Concept of Privacy
Difficulty Level: Easy

1. How can scientific misconduct be prevented?

Learning Objective: 1

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Professional Issues
Difficulty Level: Medium