This class will focus on reviewing the process of conducting ethical research in psychology. Early on in history, many experiments in psychology were conducted that would be considered to be questionable by todays standards. Over time, these studies molded the systems of ethics that are in use today that focus on the concept of "Do No Harm." 

Class #1: Students will receive a hand-out that outlines the course topics for each week as well as gives critical definitions. Students will be given a preview of the cases that are going to be covered by the instructor and then through discussion will be asked what they believe could fall under the category of unethical. Lecture will then provide an introduction to ethics and what the term means in regards to psychological research with animals and human participants. Presentation of some of the early research studies in Psychology including Little Albert and the conditioning of a fear response, Harlow's Monkeys and the Pit of Despair and Seligman's Learned Helplessness as established in a famous study that he did with dogs will occur. Discussion questions will be posted to the classroom that will require learner initial responses and then learners will respond to at least one other classmate's post. The instructor will facilitate the discussion and add additional comments to keep the discussion flowing. 

Class #2: Discussion with students of cases from class #1 continues. One of the most famous cases will be presented, the Milgram Obedience Study. The reasons behind the study will be mentioned (why individuals blindly followed the orders of people like Hitler or Jim Jones of the People's Temple as well as other cults such as the Branch Davidians/Waco or Marshall Applewhite and Heaven's Gate) as well as the ethical issues with the study itself. How this study laid the groundwork for the creation of ethical codes in psychological research will be discussed with the students. Students will be asked to start thinking about their own research questions and an idea to do a research study in an attempt to search for answers. Some examples will be presented by the instructor that the students can choose from if they cannot think of one on their own. Learners will post their research questions to the classroom and will ask their classmates to post feedback on their research idea. This discussion between learners will be facilitated by the instructor. The completed assignment will be shared during the fourth class session. 

Class #3: The Zimbardo Prison Study will be presented and discussed. The students will have the opportunity to share their ethical concerns with this study. The instructor will discuss the various ethical codes that were brought into existence to protect research participants. As a class we will review the ideas of Do No Harm/Participation is Voluntary/Informed Consent is Obtained/ Confidentiality is Protected and do the benefits of the study outweigh the risks to the participants? The students will share if they believe that deception would ever be okay in psychological research? The topic of debriefing will also be discussed. We will discuss creation of the Institutional Review Board. Students will have the opportunity to review case examples and share their thoughts on the ethics involved in each of the cases. Students will be able to ask any questions they might have about their research question. Discussion questions will be posted to the classroom that will require learner initial responses and then learners will respond to at least one other classmate's post. The instructor will facilitate the discussion and add additional comments to keep the discussion flowing. Learner discussions will also take place regarding ethical concerns in the specific case examples that are presented.


Class #4: Students will share their research question assignment including what kind of study they would do and what ethical considerations would need to be reviewed.  How the student would protect their participants as the researcher would also be presented. Learners will have the opportunity to offer feedback on each other's individual assignments under the supervision of the instructor. To close the class and the course we will review a summary of the studies that we reviewed as well as the timeline for improved ethical guidelines. What studies would we actually ethically be permitted to do today? 

I am very much student centered. I enjoy an interactive environment with a lot of discussion. There will be hand-outs provided to the students as well as a powerpoint used during the course. 

They do not have to have prior experience to participate in this class. My young college students as well as the high school students I have presented this topic to have enjoyed it.