The APA Code of Ethics requires researchers to obtain permission from the Institutional Review Board (IRB) at their institution prior to conducting any research. Psychological researchers must give the institution accurate information and to conform to accepted research procedures. The APA exempts certain types of research from IRB review, such as research using educational tests, surveys, study of existing documents, and observation of public behavior.
All researchers must explain the research to participants and obtain an informed consent prior to conducting the research and researchers must allow participants to withdraw at any time. The APA Ethics Code indicates when psychologists can dispense with informed consent. These exemptions include research that would not cause harm or distress to participants, such as studying educational methods in educational facilities. Other exemptions include research where the participant is anonymous, research on archival material, and observations, as well as research on industrial-organizational concerns conducted in the workplace when the participants have protection from risk.
Psychologists must indicate the likelihood of risk for participants and the specific type of risk involved (for example, the participant might read about sexual abuse). The higher the potential for risk, the greater the level of scrutiny before IRB approval. Researchers must indicate exactly what measures they will take to protect their participants, for example, if the risk is of emotional stress, the researchers might have counselors available at the time of the research.
Psychological researchers must have approval for conducting research with animals as well as humans. Psychological researchers must avoid causing stress, discomfort and pain to animals. If the research includes procedures that cause pain or stress to the animals, the findings must potentially provide sufficient scientific or educational value to justify the research as evaluated by the IRB.