Institutional Review Boards

Definition

Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) are committees responsible for reviewing and approving research involving human participants to ensure ethical standards and the protection of individuals' rights and well-being. These boards play a crucial role in the context of both ethical considerations in psychology and the study of conformity, compliance, and obedience.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Institutional Review Boards are mandated by federal regulations in the United States to review and approve all research involving human participants to ensure compliance with ethical standards.
2. IRBs evaluate research proposals to assess the risks and benefits to participants, the adequacy of informed consent procedures, and the selection of participants to protect vulnerable populations.
3. The primary role of IRBs is to protect the rights and welfare of research participants, ensuring that the potential benefits of the research outweigh the risks.
4. IRBs have the authority to approve, require modifications to, or disapprove research proposals based on their assessment of the ethical considerations.
5. Compliance with IRB decisions is mandatory for researchers, and failure to obtain IRB approval can result in serious consequences, including the suspension of research activities.

Review Questions

• Explain the purpose and responsibilities of Institutional Review Boards in the context of psychological research.
  • Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) are responsible for reviewing and approving research proposals involving human participants to ensure the ethical conduct of the study. Their primary role is to protect the rights and welfare of research participants by evaluating the potential risks and benefits, the adequacy of informed consent procedures, and the selection of participants. IRBs have the authority to approve, require modifications to, or disapprove research proposals based on their assessment of the ethical considerations. Compliance with IRB decisions is mandatory for researchers, and failure to obtain IRB approval can result in serious consequences, including the suspension of research activities.
• Describe how the presence of Institutional Review Boards can influence the ethical considerations in psychological research, particularly in the study of conformity, compliance, and obedience.
  • The existence of Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) plays a crucial role in shaping the ethical considerations in psychological research, including the study of conformity, compliance, and obedience. IRBs are responsible for evaluating the potential risks and benefits of research proposals, ensuring that the potential benefits outweigh the risks to participants. This is particularly important in studies of conformity, compliance, and obedience, where participants may be subjected to situations that could cause psychological or emotional distress. IRBs ensure that researchers adhere to ethical principles, such as informed consent and the protection of vulnerable populations, to mitigate the risks and safeguard the well-being of participants. The oversight provided by IRBs helps to maintain the integrity of psychological research and promote the ethical treatment of human participants.
• Analyze how the decisions and oversight of Institutional Review Boards can influence the design and implementation of psychological studies, particularly those investigating conformity, compliance, and obedience.
  • The decisions and oversight of Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) can significantly influence the design and implementation of psychological studies, especially those investigating conformity, compliance, and obedience. IRBs have the authority to approve, require modifications to, or disapprove research proposals based on their assessment of the ethical considerations. In the context of studies on conformity, compliance, and obedience, IRBs may scrutinize the potential risks to participants, such as the possibility of psychological or emotional distress, and ensure that appropriate safeguards and informed consent procedures are in place. This oversight can lead researchers to modify their study designs to minimize potential harms and align with ethical standards. Additionally, IRBs may require researchers to implement specific protocols for monitoring participant well-being and providing support or debriefing during and after the study. The influence of IRBs on the research process helps to maintain the integrity of the study and protect the rights and welfare of the participants, ultimately contributing to the ethical advancement of knowledge in the field of psychology.

Related terms

Research Ethics: The set of principles and guidelines that govern the ethical conduct of research, particularly when involving human participants.

Informed Consent: The process of obtaining voluntary agreement from an individual to participate in research after being informed of all the relevant aspects of the study.

Beneficence: The ethical principle that requires researchers to maximize the benefits and minimize the potential harms or risks to research participants.