Which of the following practices helps ensure justice in the selection of research subjects?

The practice of random selection of participants from the general population is essential in ensuring justice in the selection of research subjects. This approach promotes fairness by giving all individuals within the target population an equal opportunity to participate in the research. Random selection helps avoid biases that can arise from deliberately choosing specific groups based on socioeconomic status, location, or other characteristics.

By randomly selecting participants, researchers can minimize the risk of over-representing any particular demographic group and can obtain a more comprehensive and diverse sample. This inclusivity aligns with ethical standards in research, as it ensures that the benefits and burdens of research are distributed justly across different societal groups.

The other options outline practices that do not support justice in the selection process. For instance, sourcing subjects mainly from affluent neighborhoods or limiting participation to students of one university could lead to the exclusion of diverse populations, thereby violating principles of equity in research. Similarly, including only volunteers who are already informed could inadvertently favor individuals who have greater access to resources or education, which may not represent the broader community’s perspective.