Ethical Violations in Research: A Reflection on Scenario 3

by | Aug 5, 2024 | Psychology

 

After completing the preliminary reading found in the Discussion Assignment Instructions, choose one of the three professional scenarios described below and answer the following prompts in your original thread:

Analysis: State which scenario you chose and explain how the behavior in this scenario violates professional ethics, using specific support from both the ASA and APA ethical guidelines.
Action: How would you handle this situation as a professional counselor or psychologist? What approach would you take with your colleague/supervisor? Note that there are no right or wrong answersthis is a personal reflection on how you might handle such a situation in a professional manner.
Reflection: The Bible is full of stories of people who had to make difficult decisions or confront someone who was doing wrong. Choose a story that resonates with you and describe how the lesson(s) could apply to your specific scenario.
References: Include references in current APA style for the ethical guidelines, the Bible, and any other sources used.
Scenario 3:

You are a member of a team of social workers studying the relationship between social media use and depression among women. The study is funded by both government and industry organizations, including some social media companies. The supervising researcher of your team has been meeting often with representatives from one of these social media companies. When asked, she says that they are just discussing general study guidelines that everyone knows about. However, you later overhear that the company has offered your supervisor stock options and a paid position on an advisory board when the study is concluded, which she has accepted. You ask her to disclose this connection in the author notes of the paper that will soon be published, but she refuses, saying its not a big deal and theres no point raising a fuss.:

 

 

Sample solution

Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell. 

In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.


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God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.

Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.

To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.

 

References

Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.

Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.

Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.

Sample Answer

Sample Answer

 

Ethical Violations in Research: A Reflection on Scenario 3

Analysis

I have chosen Scenario 3, which involves a supervising researcher who has accepted stock options and a paid position from a social media company while overseeing a study on the impact of social media on depression among women. This scenario presents a clear violation of professional ethics as outlined by both the American Sociological Association (ASA) and the American Psychological Association (APA).

According to the ASA Code of Ethics, researchers must maintain integrity and objectivity in their work. Specifically, Section 4.0 states that sociologists should disclose any potential conflicts of interest, which is essential to uphold the integrity of research. The supervisor’s acceptance of stock options from a company that stands to benefit from favorable research outcomes creates a conflict of interest that undermines the trustworthiness of the study.

Similarly, the APA Ethical Principles emphasize the importance of maintaining confidentiality and avoiding conflicts of interest. Principle A, which focuses on beneficence and nonmaleficence, highlights the responsibility psychologists have to ensure their work does not cause harm. The supervisor’s failure to disclose her financial ties to the social media company not only jeopardizes the validity of the research but also poses potential harm to participants if the results are biased or manipulated.

Action

As a professional counselor or psychologist, it is my ethical obligation to address this situation proactively. First, I would document my observations regarding the supervisor’s behavior, including her refusal to disclose the conflict of interest. I would then approach her privately, expressing my concerns about the ethical implications of her actions. I would emphasize that transparency is crucial for maintaining the integrity of our research and that disclosing such conflicts is not merely a formality but a necessity for ethical scholarship.

If my colleague remains uncooperative, I would escalate the issue to higher authorities within our institution, such as an ethics committee or a department head, ensuring that I present my concerns factually and professionally. It is vital to focus on the potential consequences for both the research community and the participants involved rather than personalizing the conflict.

Reflection

The biblical story of David and Nathan resonates with me in this scenario. In 2 Samuel 12, the prophet Nathan confronts King David after he commits adultery with Bathsheba and arranges for her husband’s death. Nathan uses a parable to illustrate David’s wrongdoing, prompting him to reflect on his actions and ultimately repent.

This story highlights the importance of confronting unethical behavior with courage and integrity. Just as Nathan approached David with honesty and clarity, I recognize that it is my duty to address unethical conduct in my professional environment, regardless of the potential discomfort it may cause. The lesson here emphasizes the need for accountability and ethical vigilance, principles that are vital in any research context.

References

American Psychological Association. (2017). APA ethical principles of psychologists and code of conduct. https://www.apa.org/ethics/code/

American Sociological Association. (2018). Code of ethics. https://www.asanet.org/sites/default/files/asa_code_of_ethics.pdf

The Holy Bible, New International Version. (2011). Zondervan.

By adhering to ethical guidelines and reflecting on moral teachings, I can contribute to a culture of integrity in research that ultimately benefits both scholars and society at large.

 

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