DT Wk 13F/14S: Experimental Research
Please find a website that is “seeking” volunteers, provide the URL link or actual Study – NOT just a brief abstract
What is the experiment about, what type of compensation/benefit might you receive, what are the potential risks, and what might it be saying “in-between the lines”. Sometimes the perceived benefit is not really what you get or it might cost you in the long run.
1. Name at least 1 validity issue (from the list on PP) (state what it is and how what they could do to “help” with it)
2. Name minimum of 1 ethical issue (from ch. 3 info) that might/could come into play (state what it is and what they could do to “lessen” if not eliminate the issue)
PEER: As always, please comment on a peer that does not already have a peer post if possible. Please look at the study FIRST and then make substantive comment of 3-4 sentences or more.
7 Pts Original, 3 pts Peer
Below is an Example:
Research Subject Needed: Individual who need their wisdom teeth removed are being sought for a study to improve pain control after dental surgery. $150 compensation for participation in the study. Usual surgical fees still apply (this was all in the heading)
Then the first paragraph states: You will receive a cash payment of UP to $150 for your participation
Perceived benefits if needing them out is $150 compensation to go through their procedure. But after the first paragraph – what is the “up to $150 all about?
A consultation appointment is needed to determine if you need teeth removed, to determine costs, etc. and go over risks and benefits of the surgery. The oral surgeon performing consultation will require an x-ray, if one was taken recently, bring that – IF NOT, an x-ray will be taken on day of consultation appointment. The COST of the consultation appointment is $30 and the cost of the x-ray is $50.
If after the consultation you wish to schedule your wisdom teeth to be removed, please tell receptionist that you want to participate in the study. Please note that before you are officially enrolled in the study, you will be given a form to read that explains in detail what participation in the involves.
So – to that perceived benefit – we potentially will be paying $80 just for consultation prior to knowing if we are even selected – so benefit at this point would only be $70. Still have to question why the “up to $150” – was that because of these costs or something else. You could be spending time and money and come out with nothing other than your wisdom teeth removed (which is what would have happened anyway – so maybe it’s only the time with the consultation that you lose).
Ethical – appears be a certain degree of Deception at least up front; could cause physical harm if reaction, but they are signing consent
Validity – selection bias: not clear if they are going to have a control group, but would need to make sure respondents were split between the 2 groups if they did based on “normal pain level” – there would need to be some way to pre-measure pain tolerance prior to any treatment in which the stimulus was to have less pain. Otherwise, we wouldn’t know of reduced pain was due to stimulus or that person just has a lower or higher pain tolerance than the next person.
