What ethical principle ensures that subjects willingly agree to participate in research studies?

Informed consent is the ethical principle that ensures participants willingly agree to take part in research studies. It is a crucial component of ethical research practices, as it requires that researchers provide clear information about the study’s purpose, procedures, potential risks, and benefits, allowing potential participants to make an informed decision about their involvement.

This principle protects participants by ensuring they are not only aware of what their participation entails but also that they engage in the study voluntarily, without deceit or pressure. By upholding informed consent, researchers respect the autonomy of individuals, enabling them to exercise their right to choose whether or not to participate based on a comprehensive understanding of the research and its implications.

Anonymity, confidentiality, and coercion relate to different aspects of ethical research. Anonymity refers to the protection of participants' identities, confidentiality involves safeguarding the information obtained from participants, and coercion is about the unethical pressure that could force participation. However, none of these concepts directly address the necessity of voluntary agreement, which is central to informed consent.