Final answer:
Regulations in research involving human subjects ensure ethical standards and participants' safety, requiring informed consent, minimizing risks, and maintaining privacy. Institutions must have IRB approvals for studies, guided by the ethical expectations defined by the American Statistical Association and other professional bodies.
Step-by-step explanation:
Conforming with Laws and Regulations in Research
Research involving human subjects must adhere to strict ethical and legal standards to ensure participant safety and integrity of the study. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is responsible for overseeing federal regulations that protect research participants. These regulations typically require the establishment of Institutional Review Boards (IRB) to approve studies before they commence. This approval process is crucial to ensure that:
- Risks to participants are minimized and reasonable in comparison to the potential benefits.
- Participants give informed consent, meaning they are fully aware of the risks before agreeing to take part in the study.
Moreover, professional organizations such as the American Statistical Association (ASA) define ethical expectations for researchers, which include guidelines on conducting studies, using sources, accepting funding, and publishing results. Researchers are also tasked with protecting the privacy of participants, under any circumstance, including pressure from external authorities.
In summary, all these measures are designed to foster a responsible research environment where the rights and interests of human subjects are safeguarded, the integrity of the data is maintained, and trust in scientific investigation is sustained.