Which of the following approaches would most likely explore the ethics involved with developmental research?

The correct choice, which focuses on the ethics involved in developmental research, is the developmental approach. This approach specifically examines how individuals grow and change throughout their lifespan, from infancy to adulthood and beyond. Ethical considerations are particularly significant in developmental research because it often involves vulnerable populations, such as children and adolescents. Researchers must navigate issues like informed consent, the impact of their studies on participants, and the long-term effects of their research findings on these individuals' development.

Understanding ethical principles is crucial in developmental psychology, as researchers have a responsibility to protect the well-being of their participants. This includes ensuring that any potential risks are minimized and that participants' rights are respected throughout the research process.

While the other approaches have their own importance within psychology and may touch upon ethical considerations, they do not specifically focus on the ethical challenges inherent in developmental research in the same way. The social approach tends to examine group behaviors, the cognitive approach concentrates on mental processes, and the individual differences approach looks at how people differ from one another. These aspects do involve ethical standards, but they are not as directly tied to the ethical complexities unique to the context of developmental studies.