Which of the following is a potential outcome of conducting research without ethical oversight?

Conducting research without ethical oversight significantly increases the risk of harm to participants. Ethical oversight, often provided by Institutional Review Boards (IRBs), is essential for safeguarding the rights, well-being, and safety of research participants. It ensures that studies are designed to minimize harm and that any potential risks are weighed against potential benefits. When this oversight is absent, researchers may engage in practices that could lead to physical, psychological, or social harm to participants. Unethical research can result in serious consequences, including adverse health effects, exploitation of vulnerable populations, and violations of individuals' rights.

In contrast to this, the other outcomes mentioned tend to misrepresent the significance of ethical standards in research. Increased collaboration between researchers and sponsors, long-term benefits for the scientific community, and higher quality of research outputs typically arise from adherence to ethical guidelines and principles, not from the absence of oversight. Ethical oversight fosters trust, encourages responsible conduct of research, and ultimately leads to more credible and impactful scientific findings.