Question

Professor cognition is examining how time delays affect memory performance. he decides to use students in his psychology course as his subjects. during a class session, he tells the students about the study. they will take a memory test in class and then again, an hour later. as an incentive, he informs the class that those who are willing to participate will receive 10 points extra credit. those not willing to participate will have 10 points deducted from their overall course grade. the students who decide to participate complete the two memory tests anonymously and then are explained the basis for the experiment. professor cognition is violating which ethical standard?

Answer 1

Professor Cognition is violating the voluntary participation ethical standard.

Professor Cognition violated this ethical standard when informed the class that those who are willing to participate will receive 10 points extra credit and those not willing to participate will have 10 points deducted from their overall course grade. As a student, you will be forced to participate as you’ll be losing 10 points from the overall course grade, thus violating the “voluntary participation" in the research.