Discuss the ethical considerations that researchers must consider while carrying out research on human development.

Answers will vary. Researchers adhere to ethical standards that are intended to promote the dignity of the individual, foster human welfare, and maintain scientific integrity. These standards also ensure that they do not use methods or treatments that harm subjects:
• Researchers are not to use methods that may do physical or psychological harm.
• Participants (and parents, if participants are minors) must be informed of the purposes of the research and about the research methods.
• Participants must provide voluntary consent to participate in the study.
• Participants may withdraw from the study at any time, for any reason.
• Participants should be offered information about the results of the study.
• The identities of the participants are to remain confidential.
• Researchers should present their research plans to a committee of their colleagues and gain the committee's approval before proceeding.
These guidelines present researchers with a number of hurdles to overcome before proceeding with and while conducting research, but because they protect the welfare of participants, the guidelines are valuable.