In ethical human subjects research, the aim is to contribute to generalizable knowledge while doing what?

• A. Maximizing profits
• B. Protecting participants
• C. Reducing data quality
• D. Delaying publication

Answer: (B)

Protecting participants is the essential priority. Even when the goal is to gain generalizable knowledge, researchers must safeguard the people involved by ensuring informed consent, minimizing risks, protecting privacy and confidentiality, monitoring for harms, and allowing withdrawal. This fits with ethical standards like respect for persons, beneficence, and justice, often overseen by an Institutional Review Board. By focusing on participant protection, the research remains ethical and trustworthy, enabling findings to be used responsibly. Max profits would compromise welfare, reducing data quality would undermine the science, and delaying publication isn’t the primary ethical aim.