Contents

76 PART I: General IssuesKelman (1972) suggests that, before using deception, a researcher must give veryserious consideration to (1) the importance of the study to our scientific knowledge,(2) the availability of alternative, deception-free methods, and (3) the “noxiousness” ofthe deception. This last consideration refers to the degree of deception involvedand to the possibility of injury to the participants. In Kelman’s view: “Only if astudy is very important and no alternative methods are available can anythingmore than the mildest form of deception be justified” (p. 997).DEBRIEFINGKey Concept• Researchers are ethically obligated to seek ways to benefit participants evenafter the research is completed. One of the best ways to accomplish this goalis by providing participants with a thorough debriefing.• Debriefing benefits both participants and researchers.• Researchers are ethically obligated to explain to participants their use ofdeception as soon as is feasible.• Debriefing informs participants about the nature of the research andtheir role in the study and educates them about the research process. Theoverriding goal of debriefing is to have individuals feel good about theirparticipation.• Debriefing allows researchers to learn how participants viewed theprocedures, allows potential insights into the nature of the researchfindings, and provides ideas for future research.Over the years, many researchers have fallen into the trap of viewing humanparticipants in their research as “objects” from which to obtain data in orderto meet their own research goals. Researchers sometimes have consideredthat their responsibility to participants ends when the final data are collected.A handshake or “thank you” was frequently all that marked the end of theresearch session. Participants likely left with unanswered questions about theresearch situation and with only the vaguest idea of their role in the study. It isimportant when planning and conducting research to consider how the experiencemay affect the research participants after the research is completed andto seek ways in which the participants can benefit from participation. Theseconcerns follow directly from two of the moral principles identified in the APAEthics Code, those of beneficence (acting for the good of the person) and respectfor people’s rights and dignity.Earlier we discussed that protecting the confidentiality of participants’responses benefits both the participants (safeguarding them from social injury)and the researcher (e.g., by increasing the likelihood that participantswill respond honestly). Similarly, debriefing participants at the end of a researchsession benefits both participants and the researcher (Blanck et al., 1992).When deception has been used in research, debriefing is necessary to explain toparticipants the need for deception, to address any misconceptions participants mayhave about their participation, and to remove any harmful effects resulting from thedeception. Debriefing also has the important goals of educating participants about theresearch (rationale, method, results) and of leaving them with positive feelings about