In what circumstances is deception permissible in social/behavioral research, and what obligations follow if deception is used?

• A. Deception is permissible only when no non-deceptive alternative exists and risks are not greater than minimal; IRB approval required; debriefing after participation; option to withdraw data
• B. Deception can be used anytime
• C. IRB approval is not required for deception
• D. Participants must always be deceived

Answer: (A)

Deception is allowed only under strict conditions: there must be no non-deceptive way to answer the research question, and the risks to participants must be no greater than minimal. Because deception changes what participants know, an IRB must review and approve the plan to ensure that deception is necessary, risks are minimized, and rights are protected.

If deception is used, there are clear follow-up obligations: participants must be debriefed after their participation, which means explaining the true purpose of the study, what was deceived, and why deception was necessary. Debriefing helps restore trust and address any potential misunderstandings or distress. In addition, participants should have the option to withdraw their data from the study if they do not want it included in the analysis, preserving their autonomy.

The other options miss these safeguards: deception isn’t permissible whenever it’s convenient, it requires IRB approval, and participants should not be deceived by default in all cases.