Ethics of Using Human Subjects in Psychological Experiments

Ethics of using Human Subjects in Psychological Experiments

This annotated bibliography presents a range of literatures that use human subjects to conduct psychological experiments. The chosen topic addresses the uncertainty of whether scientists consider ethics while designing psychological experiments on human subjects. It also considers the contribution of the made conclusions to the relevant fields. Ethics are important when designing experiments since they represent appropriate laws and guidelines. Scientists carry a moral obligation to protect their human subjects from maltreatment. The codes of conduct in the present serves both the participants and the psychologists unlike in the past. These codes do not present a correct or an incorrect method; yet they are mere judgmental factors concerning the justifiability of the research. Sometimes, a minor discomfort faced by the subjects could be justified if the formulated conclusions assist to achieve the common good. Nevertheless, when comparing the interests of the participants and the researcher, priority always weighs towards the interests of the subject.

Basner, M., Dinges, D.F., Mollicone, D.J., Savelev, I., Ecker, A.J., Antonio, A.D., Jones, C.W., Hyder, E.C., Kan, K., Morukov, B.V. & Sutton, J.P. (2014). Psychological and Behavioural Changes during Confinement in a 520-Day Simulated Interplanetary Mission to Mars. PLOS ONE, 9, pp 49-58.

The experiment of Basner and colleagues explores significant variances of behavioural responses under isolation and extended assignment internment of crew members aboard a space craft travelling to Mars. The results reported that the subjects with a higher degree of mood disturbance also had a higher rate of depression leading to confliction with others. One subject displayed that sleep deprivation subsequently lead to tiredness and less activeness. Other members did not show any difference in behaviour under sleep deprivation or isolation. This concludes that the experiment was helpful in understanding the physiological and behavioural differences among crew members and it could be used to improve the quality and comfort of such journeys while assisting the selection and training of crew members.

The morality of burdening the responsibility of such experiment on stressed subjects could be questioned. The conclusions made are common knowledge which could have been tested on other subjects. The experiment is expected to be used to improve the quality of space travel and toassist when choosing new recruits. Yet, the used method could not be justified and the contributions made by the experiment to the field is questionable.

Hortensius, R., Terburg, D., Morgan, B., Stein, D.J., Honk, J.V.& Gelder, B. (2016). The role of the basolateral amygdala in the perception of faces in natural contexts. The Royal Society, 6, pp 547- 568.

Amygdala is the structure in humans related to threat triggering behaviour. The experiment was designed by Hortensius and colleagues to investigate the basolateral amygdala’s relation to the facial and contextual processing. The subjects used were suffering from focal basolateral amygdala damage. The hypothesis was that the damaged basolateral amygdala changes the relationship between the threatened facial and contextual behaviour which activates the threat related dorsal stream. The results supported the hypothesis made. The findings demonstrate the relationship between the extent of damage to the basolateral amygdala and responses to threatened emotional situations.

Utilizing subjects with health issues and experiencing them with a threatened situation is unethical. The experimental results may be helpful in determining medical treatments for the issue. Yet, the applications are not properly discussed in the paper. This makes it hard to justify the unethical stand of this experiment.

Jankowiak-Siuda, K., Rymarczyk, K., Zurawski, L., Jednoróg, K. & Marchewka, A. (2015). Physical attractiveness and sex as modulatory factors of empathic brain responses to pain. Frontiers in Behavioural Neuroscience, 9, pp 63-89.