4 ms·

As a foreigner something I've always found hilarious is that on one hand, Americans in academia act like mailing a survey to adults is Performing Research On Hu

As a foreigner something I've always found hilarious is that on one hand, Americans in academia act like mailing a survey to adults is Performing Research On Humans and it's wildly unethical to do so without IRB approval, informed consent, data control, the right to withdraw at any time and so on. But at the same time American corporations will gleefully A/B test to determine the most clicked ads, the most profitable search result ordering, and the algorithmic feed parameters that maximise time spent scrolling - all with nary a thought about any ethics whatsoever.

nickff 2y ago
There's an unfortunate history of scientists harming study subjects, which caused most institutions to institute these safeguards, so as to avoid reputational harm which would cause the government to cease funding them. Corporations are not subject to political whims, though they often do have lawyers review their study techniques, as they are subject to lawsuits.
voxic11 2y ago
That is because most academics work at institutions which receive federal funding and all human research at such institutions requires IRB approval. American corporations in general do not receive federal funding and so IRB approval is only required in limited circumstances such as research on unapproved medical drugs and procedures.
- cess11 2y ago
  Are you sure it's not common for US corporations to have access to public funds, either through subsidies or public investment of some sort?
  - voxic11 2y ago
    Tax subsidies are received by many corporations but they do not fall under the types of funds covered by the "Common Rule". > Federal funds administered by a Federal department or agency may not be expended for research involving human subjects unless the requirements of this policy have been satisfied. https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/subtitle-A/subchapter-A/part-46 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/subtitle-A/subchapter-...
    - cess11 2y ago
      Does that somehow make it something else than public funding?

nickff 2y ago

There's an unfortunate history of scientists harming study subjects, which caused most institutions to institute these safeguards, so as to avoid reputational harm which would cause the government to cease funding them. Corporations are not subject to political whims, though they often do have lawyers review their study techniques, as they are subject to lawsuits.

voxic11 2y ago

That is because most academics work at institutions which receive federal funding and all human research at such institutions requires IRB approval. American corporations in general do not receive federal funding and so IRB approval is only required in limited circumstances such as research on unapproved medical drugs and procedures.

cess11 2y ago
Are you sure it's not common for US corporations to have access to public funds, either through subsidies or public investment of some sort?
- voxic11 2y ago
  Tax subsidies are received by many corporations but they do not fall under the types of funds covered by the "Common Rule". > Federal funds administered by a Federal department or agency may not be expended for research involving human subjects unless the requirements of this policy have been satisfied. https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/subtitle-A/subchapter-A/part-46 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/subtitle-A/subchapter-...
  - cess11 2y ago
    Does that somehow make it something else than public funding?