Saylor URL: http://www.saylor.org/books Saylor.org
The informed consent form explains the research procedures and informs the participant of his or her rights during
the investigation.
Source: Adapted from Stangor, C. (2011). Research methods for the behavioral sciences (4th ed.). Mountain View,
CA: Cengage.
Because participating in research has the potential for producing long-term changes in the
research participants, all participants should be fully debriefed immediately after their
participation. The debriefing is a procedure designed to fully explain the purposes and
procedures of the research and remove any harmful aftereffects of participation.
Research With Animals
Because animals make up an important part of the natural world, and because some research
cannot be conducted using humans, animals are also participants in psychological research. Most
psychological research using animals is now conducted with rats, mice, and birds, and the use of
other animals in research is declining (Thomas & Blackman, 1992). [8] As with ethical decisions
involving human participants, a set of basic principles has been developed that helps researchers
make informed decisions about such research; a summary is shown below.
APA Guidelines on Humane Care and Use of Animals in Research
The following are some of the most important ethical principles from the American Psychological Association’s
guidelines on research with animals.
- Psychologists acquire, care for, use, and dispose of animals in compliance with current federal, state, and local
laws and regulations, and with professional standards. - Psychologists trained in research methods and experienced in the care of laboratory animals supervise all
procedures involving animals and are responsible for ensuring appropriate consideration of their comfort,
health, and humane treatment. - Psychologists ensure that all individuals under their supervision who are using animals have received instruction
in research methods and in the care, maintenance, and handling of the species being used, to the extent
appropriate to their role. - Psychologists make reasonable efforts to minimize the discomfort, infection, illness, and pain of animal subjects.