What is the purpose of deception in psychological experiments?
A) Subjects may be more willing to participate if they are misinformed of the risk, discomfort, or inconvenience that they may experience as a participant.
B) To prevent subjects from quitting a study before it is complete.
C) To maintain the validity of the results by minimizing behavioural changes in subjects.
D) To lead subjects to behave as the experimenters intended.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The purpose of deception in psychological experiments is to maintain the validity of the results by minimizing behavioural changes in subjects. If subjects know the true purpose of the study, they may alter their behaviour or responses, leading to inaccurate results. By deceiving the subjects, researchers can more accurately measure natural behaviour and responses. It is important, however, to inform participants of the deception after the study is complete and obtain informed consent for its use.

What Is the Purpose of Deception in Psychological Experiments