Why do you think a present-day IRB would refuse to approve Milgram’s obedience to authority study? Give two ethical principles that were violated in this study, and connect these principles to either the Nuremberg code or the Belmont Report.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Ans: Many students have watched the video about Stanley Milgram’s research and then asked, “how did they let him do this?” Still other students want to replicate the research today. The answer to the second implied question is no. A replication might be possible in virtual reality, but it is pretty clear the same problems would still be there. No matter how thorough the debriefing or the counseling made available afterwards, there is still the idea that the participants know in their hearts that they were willing to kill someone because the study required they go on. Even if we know we are all sinners, that is a hard thing to know about yourself. The Belmont Report gives the problems with this research some simple and important names. First, the principle of respect for persons is violated. During the study, many participants expressed a desire to quit. The researchers, even if it was mildly done, urged the participants to continue. This violates the participants’ ability to withdraw at any time without penalty. Supposedly, the participants completed an informed consent, but this was negated by the setup of the situation. Second, and most important, beneficence was violated. This research did not safeguard the well-being of the participants, and it certainly was not kind. There was follow-up, but that could not erase the stress and the potential for guilt. I actually think it did a lot of good for students of research who come after and are horrified, but that benefit could be also gained from watching the news or learning about history. People do awful things to each other, but researchers should never (if at all possible to avoid) add to that legacy. Alternate points: The Nuremberg Code offered insight into research after some of the atrocities that occurred under the name of research during World War II.