If an Experimental Procedure Involves Deception Then What Are the Ethical

question 18

Multiple Choice

If an experimental procedure involves deception then what are the ethical obligations of the experimenter toward the participants?

• A) Deception is never permissible in a study and therefore such an experiment could not actually take place.
• B) Participants need to both be debriefed and compensated for not being informed ahead of time of the true nature of the study.
• C) That participants be debriefed following the procedure as to the actual purpose and rationale of the study.
• D) That participants are compensated for their participation as they did not actually give informed consent.

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Definitions:

Selective Inattention

The process by which an individual unconsciously chooses to ignore or disregard certain stimuli in their environment.

Alpha Waves

Brain waves detected by electroencephalography (EEG), associated with a state of relaxed alertness.

N2 Sleep

A stage of sleep within the Non-REM cycle, characterized by sleep spindles and K-complexes, representative of a deeper sleep than the initial N1 stage.

N3 Sleep

The deepest stage of non-REM sleep, characterized by slow brain waves and considered crucial for memory consolidation and physical recovery.