If it is unethical to manipulate a variable, then:
A) you cannot examine it.
B) you cannot examine it with a nonexperimental design.
C) you should not and cannot examine it with an experimental design.
D) you can use either a nonexperimental or experimental design, but you need Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Manipulating a variable that is unethical to manipulate is not permissible in experimental designs, as these designs involve direct intervention by the researcher. Nonexperimental designs, which do not involve manipulation but rather observation, might still be ethically problematic if the variable in question is sensitive or potentially harmful. Therefore, the ethical stance is to avoid examining such variables through experimental manipulation.

If It Is Unethical to Manipulate a Variable, Then