A group of researchers were curious to understand the behaviour of guards in prisons and wanted to know whether it was due to dispositional (personality) or environment dependent (situational) factors. To study the roles of guards and prisoners they created a mock prison. 23 men unfamiliar with each other volunteered to participate in the study and were assigned the role of prisoners and guards. Both adopted to their new roles. A rebellion on the second day led to harsh retaliation by the guards. Ruthless retributive action was taken to punish the prisoners. The researchers intended to run the experiment for 2 weeks. It was however, terminated on the sixth day due to the emotional breakdown of prisoners and excessive aggression by the guards. The experiment revealed how people confirm to the social roles they are expected to play.
Experiment Outcomes and Ethical Guidelines
Analyzing the potential outcomes of significant research, Option C stands out. It states the experiment Resulted in the development and recognition of ethical guidelines. This outcome implies the experiment had major ethical considerations or consequences that necessitated the creation and formal acceptance of standards for future research.
- The development and recognition of ethical guidelines indicate that the experiment raised important questions about research conduct and participant welfare.
- This outcome points towards a significant impact on the scientific community, leading to stricter protocols and oversight.
- It highlights the crucial role of ethical considerations in research, ensuring protection for participants and the integrity of the study.
Therefore, the experiment's most notable consequence was the establishment and acknowledgment of formal ethical principles within the field.
Important Questions from Ethics in Research - Teaching
- Ethical considerations in Educational Research include
A. Informed consent
B. Confidentiality of participant data
C. Manipulation of data to support hypothesis
D. Avoidance of plagiarism
E. Providing misleading information to participants
Choose the correct answer from the options given below: - Assertion (A): Reproductive technologies are evolving faster than societies can weigh the ethics of these procedures.
Reason (R) : Not enough research is available regarding the long term health and psychological consequences of these procedures.
Codes : - Psychological research does not allow one of the following activities:
- What went wrong with the experiment because of which it was terminated on the 6th day ?
- Research with human participants creates ethical issues because quest for scientific knowledge can exploit people. The following are important rights of participants in India :
(i) Payment for their time
(ii) Informed consent
(iii) Privacy
(iv) Protection from harm
Choose the correct answer from the code given below :
Code :
