Contents

68 PART I: General IssuesResearchers must make reasonable efforts to respond to any questions theparticipants have about the research and to respect the dignity and rights ofthe individual during the research experience. In this way individuals can makean informed decision about their participation. Participants’ consent must begiven freely, without undue inducement or pressure. Participants should alsoknow they are free to withdraw their consent at any time without penalty orprejudice. Researchers should always obtain informed consent. Written informedconsent is absolutely essential when participants are exposed to more than minimal risk.Research participants who consent to participate in research also have ethicalresponsibilities to behave in an appropriate manner. For example, participantsshould pay attention to instructions and perform tasks in the manner requestedby the researcher. Taylor and Shepperd (1996) describe a study that illustratesthe possible consequences when participants do not behave responsibly. In thestudy, participants were briefly left alone by an experimenter who admonishedthem not to discuss the experiment among themselves. Once they were alone,however, the participants talked about the experiment and obtained informationfrom each other that in effect negated the value of the research. Moreover,when the experimenter later asked the participants about what they knew ofthe procedures and goals of the study, none revealed that they had gainedimportant knowledge about the study during their illicit conversation. Thisexample illustrates the broader principle that lying, cheating, or other fraudulentbehavior by research participants violates the scientific integrity of the researchsituation.True informed consent cannot be obtained from certain individuals, suchas the mentally impaired or emotionally disturbed, young children, and thoseFIGURE 3.4The issue of informed consent is especially important when children participate in research.