Is this right livelihood?

[ccharles]

Would participating in a research study and receiving a compensation fall within right livelihood?

[James the Giant]

Are you hurting anyone or any thing by doing it?

[ccharles]

I do not have the intention to hurt anyone by participating in any studies.

[James the Giant]

How about this then...

Right Livelihood:

"A lay follower should not engage in five types of business. Which five? Business in weapons, business in human beings, business in meat, business in intoxicants, and business in poison."

— AN 5.177

Oh, and of course the basic Five Precepts.

[ccharles]

Would participation in psychology studies fall within "business in human beings"? Or is this referring to something more like prostitution, slavery, etc?

[nibbuti]

Would participation in psychology studies fall within "business in human beings"?

Only if the psychology studies are manipulative or harmful, for example some secret drug experiments or experiments that cause permanent damage.

[LonesomeYogurt]

Would participation in psychology studies fall within "business in human beings"?

Not at all! As you said, that refers specifically to slavery, prostitution, or other forms of dealing in flesh. Psychology can be very helpful if done in a compassionate and responsible way, so I would say that there is absolutely no problem so long as the experiment is not designed to hurt anyone or to cause suffering.

[Annapurna]

Would participation in psychology studies fall within "business in human beings"? Or is this referring to something more like prostitution, slavery, etc?

If you are in doubt, share the type of study. *Study* is such a vague term, it could be anything.

Like, there once was a study done, how much pain someone would inflict upon another, if s-he was TOLD to increase the electrical current on a scale, applied to another human being.

The result was, that a lot of people went way too far, although the "victims" showed lots of pain. when they were told to increase the current, as if they weren't responsible anymore and some might have gone into the area that read:

"possibly lethal dose", if they had been told they have to...

some refused to go further if the victim showed pain.

I personally would refuse to do this type of psychological experiment.