Indiana Social Studies P.1.5
The Standard
Describe the key concepts of the ethical guidelines as applied by the American Psychological Association regarding the use of human and non-human animal subjects. Explain the role of institutional review boards.
2026 Indiana Academic Standards: K-12 Social Studies
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students explain consent, privacy, the right to leave a study, and limits on deception in human research. They describe humane care and pain reduction in animal studies. They explain what an institutional review board checks before a study involving people begins.
What Mastery Looks Like
- Given a survey plan, students spot missing consent or privacy protections and suggest fixes. Given a mouse study, they identify ways to reduce pain. They can explain that an institutional review board checks risks and protections for human participants.
Common Misconceptions
- Students may think signing a consent form means a person cannot leave a study. They may think an institutional review board reviews animal studies, but a separate animal care committee does that. They may also think deception is fine as long as researchers explain it afterward.
How to Assess It
- Exit ticket: A lab plans to survey adults about stress and test a maze on mice. Name two protections for the adults, one for the mice, and what an institutional review board would check.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Give pairs mock plans for a sleep survey and a mouse maze, plus sticky notes to flag consent, risk, and animal care problems.
Ask students to write a response to: When, if ever, should a researcher hide a study's purpose from participants?
Have teams match six study cards to consent, privacy, humane care, or risk reduction, then defend one match.
Give students a mock university sleep study flyer; have them circle how participants can leave and flag any missing privacy information.
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