Final answer:
The ethical guidelines for researchers conducting studies with human or animal subjects include obtaining informed consent, maintaining confidentiality of records, and securing approval from institutional review committees.
Step-by-step explanation:
Psychologists, along with other researchers conducting studies with human or animal subjects, are bound by strict ethical guidelines to ensure their research protocols prioritize the well-being of their participants. The correct answer to the question posed is C. informed; confidentiality; institutional. Researchers need to secure informed consent from participants, which involves a thorough explanation of the research and its potential risks, and the gathering of their consent in a voluntary and comprehensible manner. Participants' personal information is shielded with utmost care, safeguarding the confidentiality of research records. Before any research is conducted, approval from institutional review committees, commonly known as Institutional Review Boards (IRB), is required. These committees review research proposals to ensure that they adhere to ethical standards and the safety of participants is not compromised before granting permission for the study to proceed.