What must psychologists obtain before conducting any research involving human subjects?

Psychologists must obtain ethical approval from an ethics board prior to conducting any research involving human subjects to ensure that the study adheres to established ethical guidelines. This process is crucial as it serves to protect the rights, welfare, and dignity of participants. An ethics board, often known as an Institutional Review Board (IRB), reviews research proposals to assess risks and benefits, ensuring that researchers comply with ethical standards related to informed consent, confidentiality, and the potential impact of the research.

Obtaining this approval is a fundamental step in ethical research practice, as it provides oversight and accountability. It also helps to ensure that the research contributes to the field in a responsible manner, minimizing harm to participants and upholding public trust in psychological research. This is why having ethical approval from an ethics board is a mandatory requirement before beginning any research involving human subjects.