Dear Graduate Student,
a a a a a a a a a a Thank you for your request in assisting you with this dilemma on racist
hiring practices. I support the idea of investigating racist hiring practices based on
the general principle (A.P.A.,2017) that resolving conflicts between commitments
that psychologists have made needs to be done in as much of a trustworthy and
competent way as possible while allowing the least possible harm. According to
Deception in Research 8.07
(A.P.A.,2017), deception is allowable if the
psychologist has resolved that the study will provide significant scholarly, actual
or scientific value and that there are no other better-suited ways of proceeding.
However, as a colleague pointed out to me recently,
Debriefing 8.08
(A.P.A., 2017)
is important to allow the participants to correct any misgivings that they might
have and to make sure they were not harmed, and if they were, to minimize as
best they can.
a a a a a a a a a a Another thought that occurred to me is in the form of Scripture. As the
Lord was speaking of sinning against others, he said that anyone who causes the
little ones to stumble or to sin, it would be much safer for them to have a huge
weight tied around their neck and thrown to the bottom of the sea (Matthew 18:6,
paraphrased). I interpret that as anyone who is unsuspecting of being harmed
should not be harmed. Thankfully our Lord is merciful, but He is also just. In the
scenario you were able to justify how to ethically protect the nature of the study
as well as the participants. Your justifications were adequate as your ethically
viable responses included the use of informed consent and debriefing. Both
solutions allow for the necessary use of deception while also protecting the
participants by providing information. The information provided during debriefing
and informed consent helps address the ethical principle at risk, integrity. Integrity
aspires us researchers to be honest with participants and where honesty is not
favorable then to be considerate of how to mitigate foreseeable harm (APA,
2017). Debriefing is an adequate response as it allows the researcher to explain
the full scope of the study including results and correct any known
misconceptions (APA.8.08. Debriefing). I believe informed consent is the best
response, your justification was that it will keep the true nature of the
investigation hidden thus lessening the chances of changes in behavior. Another
good justification is that it can provide information regarding potential risk,
adverse effects and potential discomfort that may arise from the study (APA.8.02.
Research and Publication). a While still concealing the true nature of the study the
chances of the disguise having a negative effect on participants will be mitigated.
Reference
American Psychological Association. (2017). Ethical principles of psychologists
and code of conduct. Retrieved January 27, 2022, from
https://www.apa.org/ethics/code/index
