Question

In a memory study, researchers have participants study a list of words and then tell them it was the wrong list and that they should forget it. This deception is meant to see how effectively participants can forget something they have already studied. If the researchers plan to debrief the participants afterward, would this design meet the standards of an ethical study?

1) Yes, because participants fully understood all aspects of the study.
2) Yes, given that the participants are not at risk and that they will be debriefed, this seems to be an ethical study.
3) No, because the researchers should not debrief the participants.
4) No, it is not okay to mislead individuals during the course of a study.

Answer 1

The memory study using deception and subsequent debriefing can be considered ethical as long as no harm comes to the participants, they have given informed consent, and they are fully debriefed on the study's true nature and purpose.

Step-by-step explanation:

When considering the ethics of psychological studies, the use of deception and debriefing are essential components that researchers must consider. Deception can be a necessary methodological tool in certain psychological experiments to prevent bias and ensure the validity of the results. However, it must not cause harm to participants and should be followed by a thorough debriefing to explain the purpose of the deception, the actual nature of the study, and to address any potential ethical concerns that may arise from the deception.

In the memory study described, the researchers utilize deception by telling participants to forget a previously studied list, under false pretenses. Ethically, this study appears primarily designed to observe how well participants can intentionally forget information. The study can be deemed ethical if the participants are not at risk, if informed consent was obtained before participation, and if the participants are given a full debriefing afterward, where they learn the true purpose and nature of the study. Therefore, the most accurate response to the question would be option 2: Yes, given that the participants are not at risk and that they will be debriefed, this seems to be an ethical study.