Ethics of Psychological Research

The American Psychological Association introduces the history and standards surrounding psychological research. Separate sections address human participants, nonhuman animals and the analysis and reporting of findings. It suits learners preparing to study research critically, with case exercises that require reasoning about responsibilities rather than memorizing a code.

What you will learn

• Examine research-ethics history and standards.
• Distinguish responsibilities in human and animal studies.
• Analyze reporting and research cases.

Who this suits

The provider lists a high-school diploma or equivalent as the expected preparation.

Before you enroll

Ethical reasoning involves competing values and incomplete information. Compare arguments and affected groups rather than treat a course example as a universal answer. Professional codes and legal requirements depend on context; this course does not confer a regulated professional qualification.

Coursera offers paid enrollment or subscription access. Check the enrollment screen for assessment and certificate terms, trials and any financial-aid options. Provider access terms can change; review them before paying.

Put it into practice

Review a fictional study proposal and identify questions about consent, welfare and reporting that must be resolved before any research could proceed.

Source and review

This overview is based on the provider's published information, checked on 12 October 2026. It is an editorial assessment, not a claim that we completed the resource. Time filters are approximate study ranges; projects and exercises can take longer.

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