We used Rosnow's (1990) method for quantifying the costs and benefits of research to teach undergraduate psychology students research ethics and the statistical concepts of central tendency and variability. Students rated the costs and benefits of well-known psychology experiments during the first class period and learned how to analyze and interpret their findings during the second lesson. We used class findings to demonstrate variability and consistency in ethical judgments of students. Students indicated they found the exercise useful for understanding research ethics and statistical concepts.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
American Psychological Association. (1992). Ethical principles of psychologists and code of conduct. American Psychologist, 47, 1597–1611.
2.
DarleyJ. M.LatanéB. (1968). Bystander intervention in emergencies. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 8, 377–383.
3.
DerryS.LevinJ. R.SchaubleL. (1995). Stimulating statistical thinking through situated simulations. Teaching of Psychology, 22, 51–57.
4.
DuttonD. G.AaronA. P. (1974). Some evidence for heightened sexual attraction under conditions of high anxiety. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 30, 510–517.
5.
KimmelA. J. (1991). Predictable biases in the ethical decision making of American psychologists. American Psychologist, 46, 786–788.
6.
KimmelA. J. (1996). Ethical issues in behavioral research: A survey. Cambridge, MA: Blackwell.
7.
McMinnM. R. (1988). Ethics case-study simulation: A generic tool for psychology teachers. Teaching of Psychology, 15, 100–101.
8.
MilgramS. (1963). Behavioral study of obedience. Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 67, 371–378.
9.
RosenhanD. L. (1973). On being sane in insane places. Science, 179, 250–258.
10.
RosenthalR.JacobsonL. (1968). Pygmalion in the classroom: Teacher expectations and pupils' intellectual development. New York: Holt, Rinehart & Winston.
11.
RosenthalR.RosnowR. L. (1984). Applying Hamlet's question to the ethical conduct of research: A conceptual addendum. American Psychologist, 39, 561–563.
12.
RosnowR. L. (1990). Teaching research ethics through role-play and discussion. Teaching of Psychology, 17, 179–181.
13.
RosnowR. L.RosenthalR. (1996). Beginning behavioral research: A conceptual primer (2nd ed.). Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.
14.
RosnowR. L.RosenthalR. (1997). People studying people: Artifacts and ethics in behavioral research. New York: Freeman.
15.
RosnowR. L.Rotheram-BorusM. J.CeciS. J.BlanckP. D.KoocherG. P. (1993). The institutional review board as a mirror of scientific and ethical standards. American Psychologist, 48, 821–826.
16.
StrohmetzD. B.SklederA. A. (1992). The use of role-play in teaching research ethics: A validation study. Teaching of Psychology, 19, 106–108.
