Question 1

Dr. Schmidt is using a survey to gain information about why college relationships end. There is some risk that participants will be uncomfortable or recall unpleasant situations related to their own break-ups. Given these possible risks, should the research be approved by the IRB?
A) No, there is no need for the IRB to review a proposal involving survey research.
B) No, if there is any risk, even if it is not much higher than the risks of every day life, the research should not occur.
C) Yes, it should be approved since the risk is minimal.
D) Yes, the benefits to the participants outweigh any risks.

Accepted Answer

Even though there is some risk involved, it is minimal and falls under the exempt category of research. Therefore, it should be approved by the IRB to ensure that ethical guidelines are followed in conducting the research.

Question 2

One way to maximize the benefit of societal research, according to your text, is
A) Benefits are indirect
B) Findings inspire policy changes
C) Findings result in more knowledge
D) Conduct research in a methodologically sound manner

Accepted Answer

Conducting research in a methodologically sound manner ensures that the findings are reliable and valid, which maximizes the benefit of societal research by providing trustworthy information that can be used to inform decisions and policies.

Question 3

Pawelz (2018) research on male-dominated spheres is a good example of
A) Ensuring confidentiality
B) Minimizing harm for participants
C) Maximizing benefits to the participants
D) Taking precautions to keep yourself safe as a researcher

Accepted Answer

Pawelz (2018) focused on the importance of taking precautions to ensure the safety of the researcher, especially when conducting research in male-dominated spheres that might pose potential risks.

Question 4

Which of the following is not an example of a power differential in social research?
A) A college student surveys their peers on their attitudes about legalization of marijuana.
B) A researcher asks low-wage employees about problematic work practices at their company.
C) Student athletes are interviewed about abuses they face from their coaches.
D) A professor collects data from students they are teaching about how the feel about the teaching techniques being used.

Accepted Answer

A power differential refers to an imbalance of power between the researcher and the research participants. In option A, the college student and their peers do not have a significant power differential, as they are all on similar levels of authority and social status. However, in the other options, there is a clear power differential, as the researcher holds more authority and power than the research participants.

Question 5

The way in which the social and structural context impacts a person's identity, status, and perspectives, affecting the amount of power and authority someone holds in an interaction is known as
A) Reactive effects
B) Positionality
C) Justice
D) Research ethics

Accepted Answer

Positionality refers to how a person's social and structural context impacts their identity, status, and perspectives, which in turn affects their power and authority in social interactions. Reactive effects refer to the impact that being studied or evaluated has on individuals or groups, justice refers to fairness and impartiality in decision-making, and research ethics refers to guidelines and principles for conducting ethical research.

Question 6

Which of the following is not a question that a researcher should ask to ensure that they are reflective about power dynamics that could impact their respondents?
A) What do I need to do to ensure my safety in this situation?
B) How might power dynamics make my respondent feel compelled to share information with me or feel uncomfortable doing so?
C) What does it mean to tell this person's story in my research?
D) What limitations might I confront when trying to represent this person's experiences?

Accepted Answer

While ensuring personal safety is important, this question does not directly address power dynamics from the perspective of the respondent. The other three questions all relate to the researcher's understanding of power dynamics and their impact on the respondent's experiences and willingness to participate in the research.

Question 7

bell hooks argues that, when it comes to white people studying people of color
A) White researchers should only study people in the same social categories as themselves.
B) Structures of power are not a big concern.
C) It is important to focus on the facts, rather than the impact of positionality.
D) Researchers should discuss the position they write and speak from and interrogate how privilege impacts the research.

Accepted Answer

bell hooks argues that it is important for researchers to not only discuss the position they write and speak from, but also to interrogate how their privilege impacts the research. This means being aware of power structures and how they may affect the research process and results. Simply studying people in the same social categories as oneself would not necessarily address these concerns. Additionally, focusing solely on facts without considering positionality can perpetuate unequal power dynamics and contribute to the marginalization of people of color.

Question 8

All of the following are critiques of Alice Goffman's study of young African American men and their families in West Philadelphia except
A) As a white woman, Goffman should not have studied this population.
B) Goffman's accounts reinforced racial stereotypes.
C) Goffman was seen as being too close to her respondents.
D) Goffman's writing style and focus on individual people obscured the larger issues at work.

Accepted Answer

The other critiques are valid points that have been made about Goffman's study, but this choice is incorrect because it is not a critique of her methodology, analysis, or writing style. It is a criticism of her positionality and authority to conduct research on a population to which she does not belong. However, this critique is not universally agreed upon and has been the subject of debate among scholars.

Question 9

Regnerus' study on the impact of same-sex relationships on children is an example of the ways that research have political consequences because
A) The research found that young adults who had same-sex parents had worse social, emotional, and relationship outcomes.
B) The results were not focused on children but young adults.
C) Regnerus' measurement strategy was questionable.
D) The findings were used to argue against the legalization of same-sex marriage.

Accepted Answer

Regnerus' study was used by opponents of same-sex marriage to argue against its legalization, despite criticisms of his measurement strategy and the fact that the study did not actually focus on children raised by same-sex parents, but rather on young adults who may have had any exposure to same-sex relationships during their upbringing.

Question 10

Which of the following statements about the ethics of internet research are true?
A) Online research that involves direct contact with participants are subject to the same ethical protocols as in-person research.
B) Because social media is public domain, there are no concerns about privacy or confidentiality that need to be considered.
C) Using real Twitter handles in a research study is never problematic.
D) Covert research when done online is not ethically problematic.

Accepted Answer

Online research that involves direct contact with participants are subject to the same ethical protocols as in-person research. This includes obtaining informed consent, protecting participants' privacy and confidentiality, and minimizing potential harm.

Question 11

The moral and professional standards that guide research are known as research design.

Accepted Answer

Research ethics are the moral and professional standards

Question 12

Researchers are solely responsible for reviewing and identifying ethical problems in their research.

Accepted Answer

Researchers are responsible, but professional organizations and institutional review boards are also part of the process.

Question 13

Concern about the ethical treatment of human research subjects emerged in the 1800s.

Accepted Answer

Guidelines for ethical research involving humans developed after the Nuremberg Trials after World War Two (in 1946.)

Question 14

The men in the Tuskeegee Syphilis experiment were denied treatment even after it was discovered that penicillin was an effective treatment for the disease.

Accepted Answer

Men were falsely told they were being treated and were denied penicillin.

Question 15

The three main ethical principles outlined in the Belmont Report are: respect for persons, beneficence, and justice.

Accepted Answer

These are the three principles established in the Belmont report in 1979.

Question 16

Justice in the Belmont Report refers to ensuring participants' well-being, maximizing benefits, and reducing harm.

Accepted Answer

This is the definition of beneficence. Justice has to do with the risks and benefits being fairly distributed.

Question 17

The Belmont Report replaced the Common Rule as the system used to ensure protection of human research participants.

Accepted Answer

Common Rule is the current system used.

Question 18

Institutional Review Boards only review research that involves high risk to the participants.

Accepted Answer

IRBs oversee all research involving human participants proposed with a few exemptions. The levels of review vary and are determined by the IRB.

Question 19

Ethnographic research is an especially challenging methodology for IRBs to assess.

Accepted Answer

Because it is difficult for researchers to anticipate all the people they will encounter or gain informed consent, this type of research can be difficult to assess.

Question 20

González-Lopez's research on incest in Mexico highlights the ways that researchers must be continuously aware of and reflective about the ways that risks could arise in the research process for respondents.

Accepted Answer

González-Lopez realized that the informed consent forms could put her respondents at risk. She also had to attend to the emotional well-being of her respondents.

Quiz 2: What Principles and Standards Guide Research Research Ethics

Dr. Schmidt is using a survey to gain information about why college relationships end. There is some risk that participants will be uncomfortable or recall unpleasant situations related to their own break-ups. Given these possible risks, should the research be approved by the IRB?

One way to maximize the benefit of societal research, according to your text, is

Pawelz (2018) research on male-dominated spheres is a good example of

Which of the following is not an example of a power differential in social research?

The way in which the social and structural context impacts a person's identity, status, and perspectives, affecting the amount of power and authority someone holds in an interaction is known as

Which of the following is not a question that a researcher should ask to ensure that they are reflective about power dynamics that could impact their respondents?

bell hooks argues that, when it comes to white people studying people of color

All of the following are critiques of Alice Goffman's study of young African American men and their families in West Philadelphia except

Regnerus' study on the impact of same-sex relationships on children is an example of the ways that research have political consequences because

Which of the following statements about the ethics of internet research are true?