Final answer:
Elicitation is a conversation technique designed to gather information discreetly and without raising suspicion, unlike industrial espionage, which involves unauthorized access to confidential information.
Step-by-step explanation:
Elicitation is a conversation technique used to discreetly gather information that is not readily available and do so without raising suspicion. This technique is often contrasted with industrial espionage, which involves the acquisition and use of technological information that its original owners wish to keep secret. While both methods aim to obtain confidential information, elicitation is done through seemingly casual conversation, making the person unaware they are giving out sensitive details.
For example, researchers might use deception to ensure participants in a study behave naturally and do not skew their responses. In contrast, informed consent and ethics require that participants are fully aware and agree to the procedures of an investigation, which is opposite of what happens in elicitation and industrial espionage.