Question

Scenario #1:

Dr. June Jolly is interested in exploring whether or not a new drug will reduce the symptoms of depression. She tells a colleague about a study she is planning: Dr. Jolly will administer a depression test to all the students in both of her General Psychology classes. Students in one of her General Psychology classes will be told the drug should help them to memorize material for their examinations and that they will receive extra credit if they take the drug every day for a month; students in her other General Psychology class will not be given this offer. At the end of the month, students in both of her General Psychology classes will be given the depression test again.

1. According to the Ethical Guidelines of the American Psychological Association (APA), Dr. June Jolly will be able to conduct this study if and only if:

	a.	the students in the study agree to participate.
	b.	a previously appointed research committee at Dr. June Jolly’s university (i.e., an Institutional Review Board) determines that the study does not violate the ethical guidelines.
	c.	Dr. June Jolly and her colleague believe the study does not violate the ethical guidelines.
	d.	the Chair of the Department of Psychology at Dr. June Jolly’s institution believes the study does not violate the ethical guidelines.

3 points

Question 2

Scenario #1:

Dr. June Jolly is interested in exploring whether or not a new drug will reduce the symptoms of depression. She tells a colleague about a study she is planning: Dr. Jolly will administer a depression test to all the students in both of her General Psychology classes. Students in one of her General Psychology classes will be told the drug should help them to memorize material for their examinations and that they will receive extra credit if they take the drug every day for a month; students in her other General Psychology class will not be given this offer. At the end of the month, students in both of her General Psychology classes will be given the depression test again.

2. Dr. June Jolly’s colleague recommends that she not perform the study because:

	a.	it is unethical for Dr. Jolly to ask students in her classes to participate in her experiment unless she offers students other ways to earn extra credit.
	b.	it is unethical to give drugs to participants in psychology experiments.
	c.	All of the above are true.
	d.	it is unethical to lie to experimental participants.

Answer 1

For Question 1, Option A is the answer because first and foremost, the participants of the study should agree to participate. What external bodies opine is secondary to informed consent of participation.

For Question 2, Option C is the answer. It is unethical for some students to have an opportunity to earn extra credits whereas the others do not. Also, it is unethical to give drugs in a psychology experiment as drugs are given only under expectional circumstances of experiments conducted in the medical friendly.