Here are a few examples of unethical research practices:
- Tuskegee Syphilis Study: This infamous study was conducted by the U.S. Public Health Service between 1932 and 1972. The study involved denying treatment for syphilis to African American men in order to observe the natural progression of the disease. Participants were misled about the nature of the study and were not given informed consent. The study was finally exposed and shut down after several decades, resulting in lasting harm to the study participants and their families.
- Stanford Prison Experiment: This study, conducted by psychologist Philip Zimbardo in 1971, involved simulating a prison environment and randomly assigning participants to the roles of prisoners and guards. The study was supposed to last two weeks but was terminated after six days due to the extreme abuse of power by the guards and the psychological distress experienced by the prisoners. Critics argue that the study was unethical due to the lack of informed consent and the potential for lasting psychological harm to the participants.
- Milgram Experiment: This study, conducted by psychologist Stanley Milgram in 1961, involved testing the willingness of participants to obey an authority figure who instructed them to administer electric shocks to another person. The shocks were fake, but the participants believed them to be real. Critics argue that the study was unethical due to the psychological distress experienced by the participants and the potential for lasting harm.
- Willowbrook Hepatitis Study: This study was conducted at Willowbrook State School in New York between 1956 and 1970. The study involved intentionally infecting mentally disabled children with hepatitis to study the disease. Parents were coerced into giving consent for their children to participate, and the children were not given appropriate treatment for the disease. The study was eventually exposed and shut down, but not before causing harm to hundreds of children.
- Facebook Emotional Manipulation Study: In 2012, Facebook conducted a study in which it manipulated the news feeds of nearly 700,000 users to see if it could influence their emotions. Critics argued that the study was unethical because users were not given informed consent and were not told that their emotions were being manipulated.
These examples demonstrate the range of unethical research practices that can occur, from lack of informed consent to intentional harm to vulnerable populations. It is important for researchers to adhere to ethical standards in their work to ensure that their research is both valid and responsible.