Final answer:
Approval for research involving human subjects must be obtained from an Institutional Review Board (IRB), which ensures the study adheres to ethical standards and protects participants. The correct option is C.
Step-by-step explanation:
Approval to study human subjects in a research context must be obtained from an Institutional Review Board (IRB). This board, comprised of administrators, scientists, and community members, is responsible for reviewing research proposals to ensure they abide by ethical standards and federal regulations aimed at protecting human participants. Before research commences, researchers must present their study plans to the IRB detailing every aspect, such as the risks involved, benefits, procedures for informed consent, and plans for data management. Only after the IRB gives its approval can the research involving human subjects begin.
IRBs operate according to strict guidelines established to protect individuals in the study from harm. This includes providing informed consent forms that participants must sign, informing them of the research's nature, benefits, risks, and the confidentiality of the data collected. Given the historical precedence of unethical research practices, such as the Tuskegee syphilis study, the role of IRBs has become paramount in maintaining the integrity of research involving human participants.