Research Ethics

Under the aegis of the PSY21 initiative the APA Science Directorate is undertaking a number of activities and projects in the area of responsible conduct of research (RCR). Activities include RCR workshops and development of training and informational materials. The purview of RCR also includes responsible translation of research results into a form that is understandable and usable by the general public and policy makers.

The office is charged with promoting shared knowledge, beliefs and attitudes for ethical and responsible conduct of research among investigators and students in the psychological sciences with the goal of maximizing scientific rigor and productivity within the research community.

Furthermore, since 1925, the APA Committee on Animal Research Ethics (CARE) has been devoted to safeguarding and promoting ethical conduct in research with animals, other than humans. And the newly established Committee on Human Research (CHR) charged with facilitating research with human participants that complies with prevailing ethical principles and governmental regulations, and with examining how these principles and regulations are developed and implemented.

• Responsible Conduct of Research
  Responsible conduct of research (RCR) includes most of the professional activities that are part and parcel of a research career and that are coming under increasing regulatory scrutiny.