Certification for IRB Professionals (CIP) Practice Exam

The principle of respect for persons in a research study emphasizes which of the following?

1. Free and informed consent

2. Equal distribution of risks

3. Maximizing scientific merit

4. Long-term data retention

The correct answer is: Free and informed consent

The principle of respect for persons in research fundamentally underscores the necessity of obtaining free and informed consent from participants. This principle recognizes the inherent dignity and autonomy of each individual, ensuring that participants are fully aware of the nature, purposes, risks, and potential benefits of the research before agreeing to take part. It is crucial for researchers to provide clear and comprehensive information, allowing individuals to make informed decisions about their involvement in the study. Emphasizing free and informed consent is also linked to the ethical obligation of researchers to respect the autonomy of individuals, enabling them to voluntarily make choices about their participation without coercion or undue influence. This aspect is foundational to ethical research practices, reinforcing the idea that individuals should have control over their own involvement in research. In contrast, the other options like equal distribution of risks, maximizing scientific merit, and long-term data retention, while important in their own right, do not specifically encapsulate the essence of the principle of respect for persons. These considerations relate more to fairness, scientific integrity, and data management rather than the ethical imperative of informed consent and respect for individual autonomy.