Which principle is central to contract theory in human research and requires treating all participants as equals without bias based on social status?

• A. Autonomy
• B. Justice
• C. Beneficence
• D. Nonmaleficence

Answer: (B)

Justice as fairness is the idea this item is getting at. In contract theory for human research, the emphasis is on treating all participants as moral equals and ensuring that the burdens and benefits of research are distributed without letting social status influence who bears risk or who gains potential benefits. This mirrors the notion of a social contract among equals, where rules are designed so that no group is advantaged or disadvantaged merely by their position in society.

Why this fits best: justice focuses on equality and non-discrimination in who participates, who bears risk, and who receives benefits. It underpins fair subject selection, equal respect for persons, and protection against exploitation, all regardless of status. By contrast, autonomy centers on respecting individuals’ decision-making capacity and obtaining informed consent; beneficence is about promoting good and maximizing benefits; nonmaleficence is about avoiding harm. While those principles are essential, they do not by themselves require or guarantee equal treatment across social status in the way contract-theory-based justice does.