Which type of research typically requires more stringent ethical reviews?

Research involving human participants typically requires more stringent ethical reviews because it directly affects individuals’ rights, welfare, and privacy. Ethics in this context emphasizes the importance of obtaining informed consent, ensuring participant safety, and maintaining confidentiality throughout the research process. Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) are specifically established to evaluate research protocols involving human subjects to minimize risks and ensure ethical standards are upheld.

In contrast, other types of research, such as animal research and naturalistic observation, while also subject to ethical considerations, do not have the same direct implications for individual rights and well-being as research with human participants. Laboratory-based research may also involve ethical considerations, but the protection of vulnerable populations and the need for stringent oversight is particularly crucial when human individuals are involved. The potential for coercion, exploitation, and the complexities of informed consent heightens the necessity for rigorous ethical scrutiny in human research.