Which of the following principle is violated when a psychologist intentionally misrepresents his research results?

Correct option is C

The correct answer is Integrity.

3. Integrity is the principle directly violated when a psychologist intentionally misrepresents research results. Integrity refers to being honest and truthful in all professional actions, including the reporting of research findings. Misrepresenting research results is a clear violation of this principle.

Information Booster:

Ethics of Psychological Research

1. Informed Consent:
One of the most fundamental ethical principles in psychological research is informed consent. This ensures that participants are fully aware of the nature, purpose, procedures, and potential risks of the research before they agree to participate. Researchers must ensure participants understand their rights, including the ability to withdraw at any time without penalty.

2. Respect for Privacy and Confidentiality:
Confidentiality involves protecting participants' personal information from being disclosed without consent. Researchers must safeguard any data that could identify participants and only use it for the purposes stated in the research consent. This principle ensures that participants' privacy is respected and maintained throughout and after the study.

3. Beneficence and Non-maleficence:
Researchers are ethically bound to maximize benefits and minimize harm in their studies. Beneficence means that the research should aim to improve the well-being of participants or contribute positively to society, while non-maleficence involves ensuring that no harm is inflicted on participants. Researchers must carefully assess the risks involved and ensure that any potential harm is justified by the benefits of the study.

4. Integrity:
Ethical research demands honesty and accuracy in conducting and reporting research findings. Integrity entails that psychologists avoid fabricating, falsifying, or misrepresenting data. It also includes accurately reporting results, regardless of whether they support the researcher’s hypothesis. Upholding integrity ensures the credibility and trustworthiness of the research process.

5. Justice:
Justice refers to ensuring fairness in research. This includes selecting participants fairly, ensuring that the benefits and burdens of research are equally distributed, and ensuring that no group is unfairly excluded or exploited. Researchers must strive to be impartial and equitable in both their recruitment and treatment of participants.

6. Respect for Autonomy:
This principle involves recognizing and respecting the participant's right to make decisions regarding their participation in research. Autonomy is upheld by ensuring that participants voluntarily consent to participate in research without coercion, manipulation, or undue influence.

7. Avoidance of Deception:
Deception in research is only permissible when it is necessary for the study’s design and when no other ethical alternatives exist. If deception is used, participants must be debriefed as soon as possible after their participation, explaining the true nature of the study and addressing any potential harm caused by the deception.

8. Risk Minimization:
Ethical research involves minimizing risks to participants. This means designing studies that do not expose participants to unnecessary or excessive psychological or physical harm. Researchers must thoroughly assess potential risks and employ strategies to mitigate any adverse effects during or after the study.

9. Ethical Review Boards:
Before beginning a study, researchers must submit their research proposal to an Ethical Review Board (IRB) or Institutional Review Board (IRB). These boards evaluate the research's ethical implications, ensuring it adheres to ethical guidelines and protects the rights and well-being of participants.

10. Publication Ethics:
Ethical publication practices require researchers to ensure that their findings are published with full transparency, without omitting crucial data or manipulating results. Plagiarism, duplicate publication, and failure to credit contributors properly are all violations of publication ethics. Researchers should be transparent about any conflicts of interest that may affect the interpretation or presentation of their findings.