Final answer:
Ignoring ethical guidelines in a psychological study can lead to participant harm, data unreliability, and damage to the field's credibility. The American Sociological Association's standards are critical to ensuring safety, informed consent, and research integrity.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a researcher does not follow ethical guidelines in a psychological study, the consequences can be severe and multifaceted. Firstly, participants may suffer from physical, emotional, or financial harm, as they may be subjected to stressful situations without adequate safeguards or consent. Moreover, the reliability of the study's data could be compromised, and public trust in the field may erode. The American Sociological Association (ASA) emphasizes the importance of ethical principles to prevent such outcomes and ensure the safety and rights of participants. If such guidelines are not adhered to, studies may cause lasting damage, leading to censure, retractions, and loss of researcher credibility.
The principles set by the ASA are in place to ensure the proper conduct of sociologists which includes informed consent, objectivity, and participant safety during a study. Ignoring these guidelines may lead to ethical breaches, such as those seen in the infamous Milgram Experiment, with long-term implications for both participants and the field of sociology itself.