Test Questions & Answers Ethical and Scientific + Chapter 3

Chapter 03

1. Valuable information is only garnered from research that involves physical and/or mental risks to the subjects.

a. True

b. False

2. A standard guideline in social work research ethics is that research should cause no harm to subjects.

a. True

b. False

3. Debriefing must occur if deception of your subjects is necessary in the course of your research.

a. True

b. False

4. Concern with ethical practice in relation to people who are in some respect dependent is a rather new idea.

a. True

b. False

5. Having an ethical code ensures ethical practice.

a. True

b. False

6. The Tuskegee experiment ended when a cure for syphilis was discovered.

a. True

b. False

7. Funded by the U.S. government, prostitutes, soldiers, prisoners, and mental hospital patients were infected with gonorrhoea or syphilis without their knowledge in Guatemala.

a. True

b. False

8. The U. S. government created a National Commission for the Protection of Human Subjects of Biomedical and Behavioral Research in order to protect themselves from international scrutiny.

a. True

b. False

9. It is ethically acceptable to convince others to take action on behalf of your personal interests.

a. True

b. False

10. Milgram’s research reports seemed to present an honest and open account of his methods.

a. True

b. False

11. The act of publication itself is a vital element in maintaining openness and honesty.

a. True

b. False

12. Participants need not be informed of their right to withdraw at any time without penalty.

a. True

b. False

13. The risks of a research project should outweigh any foreseeable benefits.

a. True

b. False

14. The best research is done by researchers with personal attachments, monetary and/or emotional, to their area of study.

a. True

b. False

15. Children are unable to give informed consent. It is therefore impossible to do research with children.

a. True

b. False

16. University Institutional Review Boards, as a part of the Federal Policy for the Protection of Human Subjects, are only mandated at government-sponsored (state) universities.

a. True

b. False

17. Inducements such as money may also affect the voluntary nature of participation.

a. True

b. False

18. Research should be conceptualized from the perspective of the researcher.

a. True

b. False

19. Match the key concept with its description.

[d] 1. Informed consent

[c] 2. Belmont Commission

[a] 3. Achievement of valid results

[b] 4. Institutional Review Board

a. The starting point for ethical research practice

b. The unit charged with the review of ethical issues for proposed research studies

c. Created to study the Protection of Human Subjects of Biomedical and Behavioral Research

d. The process by which the potential participant is given all the information they need to decide whether to participate in the study

20. Which of the following is NOT a current ethical standard concerning the treatment of human subjects:

a. Research should cause no harm to subjects

b. Anonymity or confidentiality must be maintained

c. Researchers should fully disclose their identity

d. Subjects should be compensated for their time and effort

e. Benefits of the research should outweigh any foreseeable risks

21. The Belmont report established:

a. Beneficence

b. Respect for all persons

c. Justice

d. All of the above

e. None of the above

22. An experiment on African American men with syphilis was conducted by the U.S. Public Health Service in the 1930’s. It is known as:

a. The Nuremberg experiment

b. The Tuskegee experiment

c. The Hippocratic experiment

d. The Milgram experiment

e. None of the above

23. Which of the following is NOT an ethical principle for social work research?

a. Conflicting interests.

b. The act of publishing accurate and honest results.

c. Informed consent.

d. Voluntary participation.

e. All of the above are ethical research principles.

24. According to the Belmont report, beneficence refers to:

a. Minimizing harm.

b. Maximizing benefits.

c. Diminishing autonomy.

d. A and B only.

e. All of the above are true.

25. Milgram designed experiments to study:

a. Beneficence.

b. Obedience.

c. Emotional Regulation.

d. Self worth.

e. None of the above

26. To assess the validity of a researcher’s conclusions, you must:

a. Know the particulars of how the research was conducted

b. Justify the risk to the participants

c. Understand the researcher's bias

d. All of the above

27. With regard to human subjects, which of the following is detailed in the NASW Code of Ethics?

a. Accurate reporting of results

b. Voluntary participation

c. Informed consent

d. All of the above

28. Informed consent includes:

a. Purpose of the study

b. Possible risks of participation

c. Possible benefits of participation

d. All of the above

29. A social work student wants to understand the experiences of children of incarcerated parents. She will have a(n) ______IRB review.

a. Exempt

b. Expedited

c. Full

d. All of the above

30. A social work student wants to gather data from existing public records. He will have a(n) ______ IRB review.

a. Exempt

b. Expedited

c. Full

d. The IRB will refuse to review the study

31. I am a social worker with the state correctional institution. I want to do research that requires me to interview prisoners. I will have a(n) _______IRB review

a. Exempt

b. Expedited

c. Full

d. All of the above

32. In cases where the subject is deceived, and the deception is defensible, _________ is mandatory.

a. Consent

b. Assent

c. Debriefing

d. Professionalism

33. Children are not considered ___________ to consent to participate in research studies.

a. Informed

b. Competent

c. Salient

d. All of the above

34. Which of the following statements are true about the uses of social work research?

a. Scientists must also consider the uses to which their research is put.

b. Sometimes it is difficult to separate research and advocacy.

c. Personal values MUST be left outside the laboratory.

d. A and B only.

35. The potential of ___________ a beneficial treatment from some subjects is a cause for ethical concern.

a. Modifying

b. Enhancing

c. Withholding

d. All of the above

36. After achieving necessary clearances and approval, a researcher investigating perceptions of adults with diminished mental capacity should do which of the following:

a. Present subjects with the IRB paperwork to help them understand the full extent of the research.

b. Begin testing research subjects immediately.

c. Rewrite and discuss a consent form in a level of language that the research subject can be expected to understand.

d. Explain the research goals solely to the guardian or parent, ignoring the research subject.

37. Which of the following constitutes the most egrigious ethical misconduct in research?

1. Nazi Human Experiments
2. Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment
3. Milgram’s Experiments

d. One cannot compare individual suffering.

38. A full review by the University IRB includes a discussion of which of the following?

a. A summary of the proposal

b. The potential risks

c. The potential benefits

d. All of the above

39. A full review by the University IRB may conclude with which of the following recommendations?

a. Approval.

b. Disapproval

c. Modification

d. All of the above

40. Explain the concept of informed consent, using the example of students in a social work class.

41. List and describe the recommendations of the Belmont Report.

42. Using Milgram’s research as your framework, discuss the importance of honesty in reporting research results.

43. What is informed consent? Why is it necessary? What elements are necessary for a respondent to give informed consent?

44. According to the authors, commitment to achieving valid results is the necessary starting point for ethical research practice. Using your own words, discuss this statement. Use a specific example to demonstrate your understanding.

46. Outline the NASW’s guidelines for ethical social work research. Identify the situations in which each of the guidelines may be confusing, complex, or flexible.

46. Imagine that you are judging a debate between Baumrind and Milgram. First, describe Milgram’s research. Next, discuss Baumrind’s criticism of Milgram. Who do you believe makes the most persuasive argument? Why?

47. You are interested in studying the effectiveness of a specific substance abuse treatment on children incarcerated in juvenile detention facilities. How would your potential participants give informed consent? What other ethical issues might your Institutional Review Board be concerned with?

48. Outline the necessary precautions to take in order to maintain privacy and confidentiality. Under what situations can which of these efforts be revoked?

49. Imagine yourself as a researcher. After collecting your data, you tried multiple regressions using computer programs. Each of these seemed to produce inconclusive results. As you were about to give up, your cat walked across your keyboard, pressing several keys. Answering these commands, the computer ran a new regression, producing results that confirmed your hypothesis. Sadly, you can’t seem to replicate your cat’s commands. Given expectations of honesty and openness in research, what would you do? Identify the potential ethical land mines present in this situation.

50. Briefly discuss how the invent on the internet has simultaneously helped and hindered the researcher’s ability to maintain confidentiality.