1. Potential Psychological Harm:

• Exposure to Fear and Anxiety: Horror movies are designed to provoke fear and anxiety. Six hours of continuous exposure could put teenagers at risk of experiencing intense and prolonged negative emotions, potentially leading to nightmares, sleep disturbances, and even post-traumatic stress symptoms.
• Vulnerability of Adolescents: Adolescents are at a crucial stage of emotional development and may be more susceptible to the psychological effects of horror than adults. The study should consider the age range and individual differences in sensitivity to frightening content.

2. Informed Consent and Comprehension:

• Adequate Explanation of Potential Risks: The potential for psychological harm needs to be clearly and honestly explained to teenagers and their parents/guardians before obtaining informed consent. The consent form should also explain the research design, data collection methods, and how the information will be used.
• Assessment of Comprehension: Ensuring that teenagers truly understand the potential risks and are not motivated by peer pressure or incentives to participate is crucial. Assessments of comprehension could be conducted through interviews or questionnaires.

3. Debriefing and Support:

• Post-participation Debriefing: After the study, participants should be debriefed about the research objectives and findings. This provides an opportunity to address any questions or concerns and offer support in case of negative emotional experiences.
• Availability of Support Resources: The study should have clear procedures for identifying and addressing any psychological distress experienced by participants. This could involve providing contact information for mental health professionals or support groups.

4. Alternative Research Design:

• Shorter Exposure Periods: Instead of six hours, consider breaking down the movie viewing into shorter sessions with breaks in between to allow participants to regulate their emotions and reduce the intensity of the experience.
• Different Control Groups: Include control groups that engage in other activities for the same duration to isolate the specific effects of horror movies on memory. This would strengthen the study’s conclusions.
• Pre-existing Anxiety Levels: Screen participants for pre-existing anxiety or susceptibility to nightmares before enrolling them in the study. This would help minimize the risk of exacerbating existing mental health conditions.

5. Data Collection and Confidentiality:

• Privacy of Film Choice: Allowing participants to choose the horror movies they watch within certain parameters helps respect their individual preferences and reduces the risk of forced exposure to particularly disturbing content.
• Anonymity and Data Security: Data should be anonymized to protect participants’ privacy and stored securely with limited access to prevent unauthorized disclosure.

Conclusion:

While understanding the relationship between horror movies and memory is an interesting research question, the potential risks to the participants in this study are significant. By addressing the concerns outlined above and implementing alternative research designs that minimize risks, the IRB can ensure ethical and responsible research practices that protect the well-being of adolescent participants.

Remember, ethical research prioritizes participant safety and informed consent. Balancing scientific curiosity with protecting human subjects is paramount in any research, especially when involving potentially vulnerable populations like teenagers.