The use of deception in research means: that researchers deliberately lie or trick the participants in the research setting so that the true purpose of the study remains unknown to them (until it is revealed in a debriefing once participation is finished). Researchers include deception in the design of the study if disclosing its real purpose would lead participants to modify their behaviour, thereby distorting the research objective.
The use of deception as part of SSH research has been subject to controversy and debate. It violates the principle of informed consent and, it has been argued, can harm participants, researchers, research professions and society overall. Nevertheless, learned societies for social research argue that there are exceptional, justified uses of deception, as in cases where the study addresses important matters and is expected to reveal something of social significance, which cannot be discovered in any other way.
Information for participants may be withheld from them only when:
- the need to preserve the integrity of the research outweighs the participants’ interests,
- or if it is shown to be in the public interest.
If information has been withheld from participants, they will be appropriately informed after their participation in such a manner and to such an extent that, to their judgment, the informed consent remains intact.
In the case of procedures that can cause physical or mental harm, information must not be withheld, and no deception must be used (Code of Conduct Code of Ethics for Research in the Social and Behavioural Sciences involving Human Participants, 2018).