Final answer:
In marketing, manipulation usually denotes deceptive tactics with the aim of profit-making. Ethical persuasion, in contrast, is based on truthfulness and the consumer's best interest. Marketing strategies that intentionally mislead consumers are considered unethical and can erode trust in brands.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the context of marketing, the true statement about manipulation is d) Deceptive tactics for profit. Manipulation in marketing often refers to the use of misleading or dishonest tactics to influence consumers' behavior for economic gain. These include but are not limited to providing false information, omitting significant facts, or using high-pressure sales tactics that deceive or coerce the consumer. Other options like providing accurate information, building brand awareness, and ethical persuasion do not inherently involve manipulation.
Providing accurate information (a) and building brand awareness (b) are legitimate marketing practices aimed at informing consumers and making them more conscious of a brand or product. Ethical persuasion (c), meanwhile, involves using moral standards and honest communication to influence consumers.
It's important to distinguish between ethical persuasion and manipulation. While the former respects the consumer's ability to make an informed decision, the latter undermines it by distorting the truth. In various instances, deceptive marketing can lead to a loss of trust in brands and potentially legal consequences.
Regarding research ethics, deception (b) is sometimes used in research to prevent participants' knowledge from affecting the study outcomes, as information might skew responses toward desired results. However, it's crucial that this deception is not harmful, and subjects are fully debriefed afterwards. An example of unethical behavior in a research study would be allowing participants to see the brand of juice in a taste test, which could bias the results. Full transparency in methods and findings is essential for the integrity of the data.