Dear Ms. Best,
I am please to offer my assistance in the ethical issue of your research project. The
investigation into ascertaining whether or not businesses have racist hiring practices
is a delicate one that must be handled carefully and with the utmost care to all
participants involved in keeping with the Principles and Code of Conduct of the
APA. It is our duty to minimize harm and maximize benefits in keeping with Principle
C: Integrity and Code of Conduct 8.02 Informed Consent to Research (APA, 2016).
The best solution is the first solution of notifying participants that behaviors would
be observed, but not being specific about what they would be is the best for
minimizing the harm to participants. Also, the benefits to your research would be
maximized in accordance with Code of Conduct 3.04 Avoiding Harm (APA, 2016).
The Code of Conduct 8.07 Deception in Research, (APA,2016) could be used to
justify research participants only being told part of what the study is about but not
completely dispensing with consent. There is the risk of legal or financial harm to the
participants if the conclusions from the data prove there are inappropriate hiring
practices so obtaining consent would give them the opportunity not to participate in
the research study. Thank you for informing me of your current plan to carry out your
desired research. In reagards to the advice that you asked for, racist hiring practices
is a serious offense in which I agree that deception in research might be your only
alternative. In references to your two options, I feel as though during the debriefing,
the deception would be explained according to 8.07 deception in research (APA,
2017). During the debriefing participants are then given a chance to withdraw their
data from the research. This is also the time that the researchers can address any
misconceptions that could of formed as a result of the deception being revealed. I
agree with the deception and your debriefing of the participants. Principle E: Respect
for People’s Rights and Dignity (APA, 2017) states that psychologist respect cultural,
race, religion…and it ends stating that we do not condone the prejudices of others
that is based on these things. Researching issues such as this brings a light to such
a practice and as a result a better chance of ending it. To not research it would be to
condone it, and as a result allowing harm to be done to those that are being
deceived. I hope this letter helps and that you are successful in your current and
future endeavors. Firstly, I would like to commend you on your ethical duties and
responsibilities in reporting this incident promptly when witnessed. Additionally, I
commend your attention to detail outlining the specific facts of the incident and
when the incident took place.
In reviewing your recommendations based on the APA Ethical Code, I would strongly
agree that you seek to terminate your research project a week early and conduct
your debriefing as timely as possible. In accordance with the APA Ethical Code, 8.08
Debriefing, steps must be taken to minimize harm as soon as harm to a participant
as part of the study is observed (APA, 2017). In conducting your debriefing, please
ensure to include an additional report to attach with your findings outlining this
incident and we will forward this ethical case to the organization to initiate an ethical
inquiry into this matter.
At the forefront of our research, the safety and well-being of our participants is
paramount and we must do what we can to ensure that if harm is observed, it can be
minimized. Please schedule some time for us to debrief as well so we can ensure
termination of the research project is outlined in the limitations to the research
proposal.
