Ethical Considerations in Research Flashcards

A panelist halfway through a descriptive session says they feel unwell and want to stop. What should the panel leader do?

Answer: Let them stop immediately with no penalty and record the reason

Participants have the right to withdraw at any time without penalty or loss of promised benefits.

Which document is the foundational U.S. statement of the ethical principles respect for persons, beneficence, and justice in human research?

Answer: The Belmont Report

The 1979 Belmont Report defined these three core principles for U.S. human subjects research.

A consumer test includes a prototype snack containing tree nuts. What is the minimum ethical requirement before tasting?

Answer: Disclose allergens and screen out at-risk participants

Allergen disclosure and pre-screening protect participants from foreseeable harm.

Under the Belmont principle of justice, how should panelists be recruited?

Answer: Fairly, so burdens and benefits are not concentrated on one group

Justice requires equitable selection of participants so no group is unfairly burdened or excluded.

Which practice best protects panelist confidentiality in a sensory database?

Answer: Using coded panelist IDs and storing the identity key separately

Coding identities and separating the key minimizes risk of disclosure of personal information.

A sponsor asks the analyst to drop panelists whose scores disagree with the desired product claim. What is this?

Answer: Data manipulation and a breach of research integrity

Removing data to fit a desired outcome rather than predefined performance criteria is falsification.

Before a study using a novel ingredient not yet cleared for food use, what is typically required?

Answer: Safety documentation and review by an ethics or human subjects committee

Ingredients without established food safety status require safety evidence and ethical review before human testing.