Final answer:
Ethical guidelines are professional guidelines that protect research participants and maintain the integrity of research. The American Sociological Association (ASA) establishes ethical guidelines for sociological research. Institutional review boards (IRBs) review and approve research studies involving human participants to ensure ethical conduct.
Step-by-step explanation:
Professional guidelines that offer researchers a template for making decisions that protect research participants from potential harm and that help steer scientists away from conflicts of interest or other situations that might compromise the integrity of their research are called ethical guidelines. These guidelines are established by professional organizations such as the American Sociological Association (ASA) and are designed to ensure that research is conducted ethically and responsibly.
One example of ethical guidelines in research is the set of guidelines established by the ASA for sociological research. These guidelines address various aspects of research, including conducting studies, using existing sources, accepting funding, and publishing results. The ASA guidelines emphasize the importance of obtaining informed consent from research participants, protecting their privacy and safety, and avoiding any harm or exploitation.
In addition to professional guidelines, there are also regulatory mechanisms in place to protect research participants. For example, institutional review boards (IRBs) play a crucial role in reviewing and approving research studies involving human participants. IRBs are composed of experts in science, medicine, and the law, and their main objective is to ensure that research studies adhere to ethical principles and do not pose any harm or risk to participants.