A psychology graduate student is employed as a research assistant in a psychological experiment involving deception. In studying the research plan, she notices that no debriefing is planned. What should she do?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

As a graduate student, the research assistant has a responsibility to raise any concerns related to the research ethics with the principal investigator. The absence of debriefing may entail deception of participants, which is an ethical concern, and should be addressed. It is the responsibility of the graduate student to discuss this issue with the principal investigator and advocate for a debriefing plan that will ensure that participants are informed of the deception and the true purpose of the study. Resigning from the assistantship may not address the underlying ethical concerns, and avoiding the issue is not an appropriate response.

A Psychology Graduate Student Is Employed as a Research Assistant