Deck 2: What Principles and Standards Guide Research Research Ethics

Question 1

The moral and professional standards that guide research decisions are known as

A) Research design
B) Nuremberg Code
C) Research ethics
D) Belmont report

Answer 1

C

Question 2

Which of the following is not a reason that it is important to understand research ethics?

A) Seeking knowledge that will benefit everyone
B) Protecting research participants
C) Maintaining the integrity of the research project
D) Upholding the reputation of social sciences

Answer 2

A

Question 3

Which of the following is the most important consideration when it comes to research ethics?

A) Seeking knowledge that will benefit everyone
B) Protecting research participants
C) Maintaining the integrity of the research project
D) Upholding the reputation of social sciences

Answer 3

B

Question 4

A framework for collecting and analyzing data which outlines the researcher's approach and goals is called

A) Research ethics
B) Research design
C) Confidentiality
D) Reactive effects

Question 5

Guidelines for ethical research were first developed

A) After the details of the Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment were reported
B) When sociology first emerged as a field of study
C) After the Nuremberg Trials in 1946
D) In 1979 with the writing of the Belmont Report

Question 6

The participants in the Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment

A) Were told they were being treated when in reality they were not.
B) Were eventually given penicillin when it was found to treat syphilis
C) Were aware that they had syphilis
D) Were not targeted for the study because of their race.

Question 7

Which of the following is not one of the three main ethical principles outlined in the Belmont Report?

A) The Common Rule
B) Respect for Persons
C) Beneficence
D) Justice

Question 8

Jane ensures that her research study maximized the benefits for her participants while reducing the risks they may encounter. Which of the three principles from the Belmont is Jane attending to?

A) Justice
B) Beneficence
C) Respect for Persons
D) Anonymity

Question 9

Dr. Ferrentino's study on the impact of training programs on unemployment only provides benefits to white participants, while African American participants do not experience the benefit. Which principle of the Belmont Report is being violated in this project?

A) Respect for Persons
B) Beneficence
C) Justice
D) Common Rule

Question 10

The U.S. government outlined an official policy guiding ethical research in what year?

A) 1946
B) 1979
C) 1997
D) 1991

Question 11

Which of the following is not a characteristic of an Institutional Review Board?

A) Members are from a variety of disciplines
B) Boards include one member from outside of the institution
C) IRBs are typically at colleges and universities
D) Members must be social scientists

Question 12

Dr. Leonard is designing a study that focuses on assessing her university's orientation program. She does not plan to present or publish the findings, but will only use the information to improve the program at the institution. Does this research need to be reviewed by the IRB?

A) Yes, it should undergo a full IRB review.
B) No, ethical standards do not apply.
C) She should still submit a proposal to the IRB but it is likely to be exempt.
D) Yes, all research must be reviewed by the IRB.

Question 13

Which research method is not mentioned as one that does not align well with IRB review?

A) Experimental Research
B) Participatory Action Research
C) Postmodern methods
D) Ethnographic research

Question 14

González-Lopez needed to consider all of the following factors in her study of family incest except

A) Her participants emotional well-being
B) Noticing and respecting boundaries
C) Ensuring the participants kept a signed copy of the informed consent
D) Offering resources

Question 15

Potential research participants must be given the opportunity to agree to participate in the study, as well as be aware of what the research study entails as well as the risks and benefits of participating. This is known as

A) Informed Consent
B) Confidentiality
C) Reactive effects
D) Reducing harm

Question 16

Which of the following elements are typically not included in an informed consent?

A) Assurance of anonymity
B) The risks and benefits involved in the study
C) The names and institutional affiliation of the researchers
D) A description of how the data will be stored

Question 17

Which of the following groups would be competent to make an informed consent?

A) Children under 18
B) A respondent who speaks a different language
C) College students
D) A respondent who is very ill

Question 18

Parent/guardian permission is known as __________ and child/youth permission is called __________. __

A) Consent; assent
B) Assent; consent
C) Consent; consent
D) Assent; assent

Question 19

Which of the following could be viewed as coercing respondents to participate in a research study?

A) Offering a participant $5.00 for participation
B) Letting the participant know the benefits of participation
C) Offering to pay parking costs while participating in the study
D) Offering a respondent $500 for participation

Question 20

Reactive effects __________________________________________.

A) Are unavoidable in social research
B) Are the impact on research participants of knowing they are being studied
C) Should always be mitigated by using deception.
D) Can be avoided with informed consent

Question 21

Dr. Sanjay notices that when his research subjects enter the research space where they will be observed, their demeanor and behavior changes from talkative and friendly to quiet and passive. This is like the result of

A) Confidentiality
B) Informed Consent
C) Reactive effects
D) Voluntary participation

Question 22

Inductive research ________________.

A) Begins with theory
B) Begins with data collection
C) Is not a method for acquiring knowledge
D) Moves from the general to the specific

Question 23

Stanley Milgram's research was focused on

A) Sexual norms
B) Conformity
C) The effects of syphilis
D) Obedience to authority

Question 24

What percentage of participants in Milgram's study administered the strongest possible shock when they could not see the learners?

A) 15%
B) 62%
C) 80%
D) 32%

Question 25

When participants are unaware that a study is taking place, this is known as

A) Confidentiality
B) Reactive effects
C) Covert research
D) Qualitative research

Question 26

Covert research would be the most necessary for studying which group?

A) Pregnant women
B) Drug dealers
C) School-aged children
D) College presidents

Question 27

Which of the following was not a point of controversy regarding Venkatesh's research?

A) He did not tell all the participants that he was doing research.
B) He shared information he learned with other participants in the study.
C) He stretched the truth about his project, especially with a key informant.
D) He did not ensure anonymity for the participants.

Question 28

When participant's identities are kept private and cannot be linked to an individual respondent, this is known as

A) Anonymity
B) Confidentiality
C) Covert research
D) Informed Consent

Question 29

When it is impossible for anyone, including the researcher, to link data to a particular respondent, this is known as

A) Confidentiality
B) Covert Research
C) Anonymity
D) Reactive Effects

Question 30

In quantitative research, respondents are typically identified by a ___________ whereas in qualitative research, a _________________may be used.

A) Code number; pseudonym
B) Pseudonym; code number
C) Pseudonym; pseudonym
D) Code number; code number

Question 31

Vidich and Bensman (1968) referred to the town they studied as "Springdale, New York" which is an example of a

A) Code number
B) Pseudonym
C) Informed Consent
D) Anonymous report

Question 32

Which is the following is not a reason that the people of "Springdale" were frustrated with the results of Vidich and Bensman's study?

A) Vidich and Bensman lied about what how they would present the results of their study.
B) Residents felt their town was misrepresented.
C) It was not difficult to identify the town, despite the use of the pseudonym.
D) Citizen's in the book were easy to personally identify.

Question 33

Which of the following is not an ethical concern unique to quantitative research?

A) Ensuring the sample is randomly selected without bias.
B) Because it is numerical, there are no unique concerns in quantitative research.
C) Gathering data anonymously
D) Predicting information about the population using information from the sample

Question 34

Covert research is controversial because

A) Respondents do not provide informed consent.
B) People's privacy may be infringed on.
C) All of these
D) People do not know they are being studied

Question 35

What role did Humphrey's take on in his famous study Tearoom Trade?

A) He identified himself as a researcher.
B) He took the role of "watch queen" looking out for possible intruders and/or the police.
C) He participated in sexual activity with the men he was studying.
D) He told the men that he was an undercover police officer.

Question 36

Humphrey's research was controversial for all of the reasons except:

A) He recorded license plate numbers for the men he observed and used that information to track them down later for interviews.
B) He visited the men's homes under the guise of being a public health officer.
C) He waited a year before contacting the men he observed.
D) He did not debrief the men about the study.

Question 37

Which of the following is the best argument in support of Humphrey's research?

A) The men knew they were engaged in illegal and risky behavior.
B) The men were in a public place so there was no expectation of privacy.
C) Humphrey's did not reveal that he had observed the men when he interviewed them.
D) His findings led to a better understanding of human sexuality and stigma.

Question 38

Codes of ethics generally _________________.

A) Forbid covert research in all cases.
B) Approve of covert research as long as participants are debriefed.
C) Embrace covert research as unproblematic if there are benefits to the knowledge gained.
D) Urge researchers to avoid it except as a last resort.

Question 39

Possible harms that research participants could experience include

A) All of these
B) Physical
C) Mental and Emotional
D) Economic

Question 40

All of the following were reasons that Totten (2001) had to prioritize protection from harm over confidentiality in his study except

A) State law required that he had to report any child abuse he observed.
B) Mental health providers needed to be made aware of anyone suicidal.
C) He made the boys aware there were instances when he'd have to contact the authorities about what he learned.
D) The boys he studied witnessed their mother's being beaten.

Question 41

Dr. Schmidt is using a survey to gain information about why college relationships end. There is some risk that participants will be uncomfortable or recall unpleasant situations related to their own break-ups. Given these possible risks, should the research be approved by the IRB?

A) No, there is no need for the IRB to review a proposal involving survey research.
B) No, if there is any risk, even if it is not much higher than the risks of every day life, the research should not occur.
C) Yes, it should be approved since the risk is minimal.
D) Yes, the benefits to the participants outweigh any risks.

Question 42

One way to maximize the benefit of societal research, according to your text, is

A) Benefits are indirect
B) Findings inspire policy changes
C) Findings result in more knowledge
D) Conduct research in a methodologically sound manner

Question 43

Pawelz (2018) research on male-dominated spheres is a good example of

A) Ensuring confidentiality
B) Minimizing harm for participants
C) Maximizing benefits to the participants
D) Taking precautions to keep yourself safe as a researcher

Question 44

Which of the following is not an example of a power differential in social research?

A) A college student surveys their peers on their attitudes about legalization of marijuana.
B) A researcher asks low-wage employees about problematic work practices at their company.
C) Student athletes are interviewed about abuses they face from their coaches.
D) A professor collects data from students they are teaching about how the feel about the teaching techniques being used.

Question 45

The way in which the social and structural context impacts a person's identity, status, and perspectives, affecting the amount of power and authority someone holds in an interaction is known as

A) Reactive effects
B) Positionality
C) Justice
D) Research ethics

Question 46

Which of the following is not a question that a researcher should ask to ensure that they are reflective about power dynamics that could impact their respondents?

A) What do I need to do to ensure my safety in this situation?
B) How might power dynamics make my respondent feel compelled to share information with me or feel uncomfortable doing so?
C) What does it mean to tell this person's story in my research?
D) What limitations might I confront when trying to represent this person's experiences?

Question 47

bell hooks argues that, when it comes to white people studying people of color

A) White researchers should only study people in the same social categories as themselves.
B) Structures of power are not a big concern.
C) It is important to focus on the facts, rather than the impact of positionality.
D) Researchers should discuss the position they write and speak from and interrogate how privilege impacts the research.

Question 48

All of the following are critiques of Alice Goffman's study of young African American men and their families in West Philadelphia except

A) As a white woman, Goffman should not have studied this population.
B) Goffman's accounts reinforced racial stereotypes.
C) Goffman was seen as being too close to her respondents.
D) Goffman's writing style and focus on individual people obscured the larger issues at work.

Question 49

Regnerus' study on the impact of same-sex relationships on children is an example of the ways that research have political consequences because

A) The research found that young adults who had same-sex parents had worse social, emotional, and relationship outcomes.
B) The results were not focused on children but young adults.
C) Regnerus' measurement strategy was questionable.
D) The findings were used to argue against the legalization of same-sex marriage.

Question 50

Which of the following statements about the ethics of internet research are true?

A) Online research that involves direct contact with participants are subject to the same ethical protocols as in-person research.
B) Because social media is public domain, there are no concerns about privacy or confidentiality that need to be considered.
C) Using real Twitter handles in a research study is never problematic.
D) Covert research when done online is not ethically problematic.

Question 51

The moral and professional standards that guide research are known as research design.

Question 52

Researchers are solely responsible for reviewing and identifying ethical problems in their research.

Question 53

Concern about the ethical treatment of human research subjects emerged in the 1800s.

Question 54

The men in the Tuskeegee Syphilis experiment were denied treatment even after it was discovered that penicillin was an effective treatment for the disease.

Question 55

The three main ethical principles outlined in the Belmont Report are: respect for persons, beneficence, and justice.

Question 56

Justice in the Belmont Report refers to ensuring participants' well-being, maximizing benefits, and reducing harm.

Question 57

The Belmont Report replaced the Common Rule as the system used to ensure protection of human research participants.

Question 58

Institutional Review Boards only review research that involves high risk to the participants.

Question 59

Ethnographic research is an especially challenging methodology for IRBs to assess.

Question 60

González-Lopez's research on incest in Mexico highlights the ways that researchers must be continuously aware of and reflective about the ways that risks could arise in the research process for respondents.

Question 61

IRBs require informed consent from all research participants.

Question 62

Generally, it is impossible to avoid reactive effects in research.

Question 63

Milgram's use of deception was necessary in order to test his hypothesis.

Question 64

Venkatesh's research was not problematic because he was able to get informed consent from all the participants.

Question 65

Discuss a few of the historical events that lead to the development of research ethics for human subjects. Why is it important to be aware of this history?

Question 66

What are the three main ethical principles established in the Belmont Report? Explain each in your own words.

Question 67

What are institutional review boards (IRB) and what is their role in the research process? What is the goal of the IRB review process?

Question 68

Discuss some of the concerns that researchers have about the IRB process. What are its limitations? Does approval from the IRB mean that all ethical considerations have been accounted for? Why or why not?

Question 69

What does González-Lopez mean by "mindful ethics"? Why was this important in her research?

Question 70

Describe a few of the key aspects of informed consent. Why is informed consent an important aspect of ethical research? What are some of the challenges of obtaining consent?

Question 71

Dr. Smith is studying college students' attitudes about the legalization of marijuana. She decided to survey three of the classes that she's teaching to gather data. Why might this decision be ethically problematic? What would you suggest she do to ensure her research is ethically sound?

Question 72

What are reactive effects? What are the arguments for and against using deception as a way of mitigating these effects? Use Milgram's experiment as an example to make the arguments.

Question 73

How does Venkatesh's research about gangs illustrate some of the challenges of gaining informed consent? Do you believe that his approach was ethical? Why or why not?

Question 74

What is the difference between confidentiality and anonymity? Design a study using each approach using the same topic.

Question 75

Imagine you are a researcher studying dynamics of a fraternity or sorority on your campus. What measures would you need to consider to maintain confidentiality when you report the findings of this study?

Question 76

What are some of the reasons people may conduct social research? What is beneficial about understanding research methods? Which do you find the most interesting or appealing and why?

Question 77

Compare and contrast the ethical considerations that quantitative and qualitative researchers have to attend to.

Question 78

Imagine you are a member of the Institutional Review Board and you are reviewing Laud Humphrey's Tearoom Trade research proposal. What are the primary ethical concerns? What would you suggest he do or avoid doing in order to avoid violating ethical principles?

Question 79

What is meant by harm to participants? What factors should researchers take into consideration to ensure that they are not harming the people participating in their research? Is any amount of harm justifiable? Why or why not?

Question 80

Describe some of the controversies over power and social research, and how these relate to ethical principles. Cite an example from the chapter.