Group presentation which critiques a research ethics application (15%).

The presentation (PowerPoint Slides, etc) will be presented at Residential School, CQUniversity Campus in Brisbane Week 5.

Groups will be assigned at the end of Week 2.

Your goal is to conduct an ethical critique of a research ethics application, and develop a presentation based on the aspects you consider need addressing by the researcher.

Your critique should focus on requirements according to the NHMRC National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research, with a particular focus on Sections 1 and 2, and Section 4 where required.

• Focus on issues such as the clarity of the research question, identification of risk and participant confidentiality.
• Provide some solutions to the problems identified – what would need to be changed to ensure the project meets the required ethical standards?

Use the following approach:

• Identify and explain the problem (with reference to the NHMRC guidelines and other appropriate empirical sources)
• What alternatives are there to the proposed approach and how might these lead to better ethical conduct of this specific research project (again with reference to both the NHRMC guidelines and the provision of other empirical evidence to justify your assertions and propositions)
• Your group should develop a PowerPoint presentation that explains and addresses at least three (3) of the issues your group identifies.
• Each group will have a 12 minute block allocated at the Residential School to present their critique and solutions, and each group member should participate fully in the development of the presentation as well as the presentation itself.
• It is expected that your PowerPoint slides will provide an outline and summary of the content of your presentation.
• However, you are not restricted to the use of PowerPoint alone (although remember that this is what you are submitting). Props, singing, dancing, audience involvement, photo stories etc can all be used – feel free to be creative – but ensure you get your point across.

Your presentation and PowerPoint slides should include the following:

• A very brief overview/introduction to the proposed research task
• Clear identification of at least three (3) ethical issues present in the project proposed
• Clear justifications for the alternative approaches and solution proposed to address each of the identified issue.

Download Written Assessment Task 1 PDF from Moodle site for details and grading matrix.

Individual written critique of a research ethics application (20%)

In a logical, well-integrated essay (using APA style referencing and headings) identify (with well-reasoned justification) the major issues of ethical concern in relation to the application assigned to your group, and how these might be rectified. The issue/s you identify should be consistent with the approach taken in your group presentation. Your individual submission can focus on only one point, and can also address points in addition to your group presentation. It is expected however that will be a degree of overlap between the group submission and your individual submission. It is important to note here that you are expected to apply ethical concepts within the context of the ethics application assigned to your group and not write an essay about a particular ethical concept/s more generally.

Using the same approach as Task 1 and the group work presentation, your essay must:

• Clearly identify each ethical issue and explain why it is of ethical concern (with appropriate empirical justification provided).
• Clearly outline, and provide justifications for any alternatives to the proposed approach and how these might lead to better ethical conduct of this specific research project (again with reference to both the NHRMC guidelines and the provision of other empirical evidence to justify your assertions and propositions)
• Be formatted according to APA Style Requirements
• Have a correctly formatted Title Page
• Have an abstract which summarises the essay
• Have a correctly formatted reference list
• Be between 1250 and 1500 words (count does NOT include title page, abstract or reference lists. Count DOES include in-text citations).
• Submissions in excess of the 1500 word maximum will be penalised 10% of the total possible grade and assessment will only occur on the text of the assignment up to the 1500 words.
• Submissions below the 1250 word minimum will not be assessed and the student will receive an F grade and 0% for this assessment piece.

Follow a similar approach to your group presentation and ensure that each of the following aspects are addressed for each issue you identify:

• Problem identification (i.e. what is the issue?)
• Articulation of WHY that particular aspect a problem (with reference to empirical sources)
• Proposal of an appropriate solution
• Clear justification (with reference to empirical sources) of WHY the proposed solution is appropriate
• Clear justification (with reference to empirical sources) of WHY and HOW the proposed solution will solve the problem identified.

Download Written Assessment Task 2 PDF from Moodle site for details and grading matrix.

Select a professional ethical dilemma that may be faced by a practicing psychologist.

Prepare a brief 15 minute presentation which includes:

• A brief description of the ethical dilemma.
• Identification of the factors involved in the dilemma.
• Use of the APS decision making model as a guide to resolve the dilemma.

Presentations will be peer-assessed. Please download Assessment Task 3 from the Moodle site for more details and the marking matrix.

Individual Essay: Professional Practice Dilemma (20%)

Following the residential school four (4) professional ethical dilemmas will be made available on Moodle. You are to choose one of these dilemmas and apply the APS ethical decision model discussed during the residential school.

Essay length is 1250-1500 words.

The essay may address the following points:

Problem Recognition

• Does the response clearly identify the ethical dilemma?
• Does the response clearly explain the ethical dilemma? (This should be described as a conflict between competing duties where either good or right may be involved. E.g. The situation represents a conflict between duty to do X and duty to do Y)
• Are principles or situations that have been emphasised in professional training relevant? If so, are these identified?
• Is this a choice which over-arches the individual’s interests?
• Who is involved in this situation for whom are the consequences relevant?
• Who are the people affected and to whom are duties owed?
• Is human wellbeing threatened (not just the client)?
• Are rights or duties, including duty of care, salient?
• Are cultural issues salient?
• Which meta-ethical assumptions does the individual bring to this situation?

Antecedents and parameters of the dilemma

• What previous examples can assist in understanding the situation?
• What duties or responsibilities are present in the situation, including rights and duties derived from law or professional codes?
• Which norms and values are implicit in the situation including norms expressed through law or professional codes?
• What additional information might the psychologist need in order to specify and clarify alternative actions?
• With whom should the psychologist consult?

Identify and evaluate alternative plans of action

• What are the possible consequences of each alternative (for a full analysis consider: what is the probability, intensity, immediacy, proximity and extent of each?)
• What rights are upheld and or duties discharged in each alternative? Ignored in each alternative?
• How well does each action reflect relevant cultural norms and my personal values?
• Which actions would model those of an ideal psychologist
• Are there any pressures influencing the psychologist’s decision?

Selection of Action

• Which action maximises the wellbeing of the client in this situation?
• Which action corresponds to the psychologist’s primary duty?
• Which alternative corresponds to the moist strongly held norm or best reflects the requirements of legislation and/ or ethical codes?
• Which alternative best corresponds to that done in the matching case or by an ideal figure?
• Which response best reflects the personal values of the psychologist?

Summary and conclusion

• Overall which course of action can best be defended on the basis of ethical considerations?
• Are there possible constraints when implementing this decision?
• What might be the adverse circumstances arising from this decision?
• How might these adverse circumstances be managed?

Formatting and word length

• Be formatted according to APA Style Requirements
• Have a correctly formatted Title Page
• Have an abstract which summarises the essay
• Have a correctly formatted reference list
• Be between 1250 and 1500 words (count does NOT include title page, abstract or reference lists. Count DOES include in-text citations).
• Submissions in excess of the 1500 word maximum will be penalised 10% of the total possible grade and assessment will only occur on the text of the assignment up to the 1500 words.
• Submissions below the 1250 word minimum will not be assessed and the student will receive an F grade and 0% for this assessment piece.

Please download Assessment Task 4 from the Moodle site for more details and the marking matrix

Content of the essay (10%) including:

• Identification of relevant ethical issues.
• Explanation of relevant ethical issues.
• Detailed explanation of possible implications from these issues.
• Review and integration of valid and current research.
• Referral to relevant sections of the APS Code of Ethics and the APS ethical decision model.

Structure and style of the essay (8%)

• Demonstration of high level critical thinking.
• Demonstration of high level analytical skills.
• Logical argument.
• Definite conclusions (clear stance).
• Appropriate language and style for a professional / academic audience.
• Good sentence structure, spelling, punctuation and grammar.

Format and layout (2%)

• Accuracy of in-text citations.
• Appropriate use of in-text citations.
• Correct APA formatting for in-text citations and reference list.
• Overall adherence to APA requirements