What is meant by "deception" in research studies?

In research studies, "deception" refers to misleading participants about the true purpose or methods of the research. This practice can be employed to ensure that the results are not biased by participants' knowledge or expectations about the study. When individuals are aware of the purpose of the research or the specific hypotheses being tested, it may influence their behavior, potentially skewing results.

Using deception must be carefully justified and is generally acceptable only when the benefits of the research outweigh the potential risks to the participants. Moreover, ethical guidelines often require that participants be debriefed after their involvement in the study, where they are informed of the true nature of the research and any deception used.

Other options address different ethical concerns in research but do not specifically pertain to the concept of deception. For example, using false data or failing to disclose financial conflicts of interest relates to integrity and transparency in research. In contrast, conducting research without approval from ethics boards highlights the need for ethical oversight rather than deception itself.