5. Research & Scholarship

Ethical Research — Quiz

Test your understanding of ethical research with 5 practice questions.

Practice Questions

Question 1

A researcher is conducting a study on the long-term effects of a new educational program. Due to the nature of the program, participants cannot be fully informed about all aspects of the study at the outset without potentially biasing their responses. What ethical principle is most directly challenged by this necessity, and what is the primary mechanism to mitigate this challenge?

Question 2

In a clinical trial for a life-saving drug, researchers discover during an interim analysis that the experimental drug is significantly more effective than the placebo. Continuing the trial with a placebo group would mean withholding a superior treatment from some participants. What is the most ethically sound course of action for the researchers?

Question 3

A researcher is conducting a study on the prevalence of a stigmatized health condition in a small, isolated community. The community is identifiable, and even with de-identified data, there is a non-zero risk that individuals could be re-identified, leading to social harm. Which of the following strategies offers the most robust protection against re-identification and potential social harm in this specific context?

Question 4

A graduate student is analyzing a large dataset provided by their supervisor. The supervisor instructs the student to exclude certain data points that do not support the hypothesis, claiming they are 'outliers' without providing a clear, pre-defined statistical justification. What is the most appropriate ethical response for the graduate student?

Question 5

An Institutional Review Board (IRB) is reviewing a research protocol for a study involving a new behavioral intervention for adolescents. The intervention shows promise but requires participants to engage in activities that could cause mild psychological discomfort. The IRB's primary ethical challenge is to balance the potential benefits of the intervention with the risks of discomfort. Which ethical principle is at the forefront of this deliberation, and what is the IRB's core responsibility in this context?