The Permissibility of Deception in Riskier Research

The use of deception is typically prohibited in studies that pose greater than minimal risk overall. This approach prevents researchers from using deception to conceal significant risks or to deceive participants about the purpose, potential benefits, or other aspects of a study that are relevant to deciding whether to accept such risks. Yet this approach also mistakenly blocks appropriate research. In particular, it keeps researchers from using deception in studies that pose greater than minimal risk, even when participants are informed accurately about the risks and other aspects of the study that are relevant to deciding whether to participate. Rather than prohibiting deception when the overall study poses greater than minimal risk, policies should prohibit deception when the aspect of the study about which participants are deceived poses greater than minimal risk.