Final answer:
The American Sociological Association provides a set of ethical guidelines for conducting sociological research, maintaining professional integrity and safeguarding human subjects.
Step-by-step explanation:
The American Sociological Association (ASA) plays a pivotal role in establishing ethical guidelines for sociologists. The Code of Ethics created by the ASA serves as a framework of principles and ethical standards, particularly when dealing with human subjects in research. These guidelines aim to ensure that research is conducted with the highest degree of integrity, objectivity, and respect for all human participants. Inspired by anthropological ethics, these standards emphasize the importance of cultural relativism, the dignity of humans, and the value of diversity.
Researchers are required to maintain objectivity and integrity, and the ASA provides procedures for dealing with complaints of unethical conduct. The creation of such a detailed set of ethical principles by the ASA was necessary to safeguard human participants from potential harm and to maintain professional responsibility within the sociological community.