Dr. Marcell conducted a memory experiment in which he investigated the role of mental imagery on recall. The participants were told that their memory for words would be tested, but they were not informed about the imagery manipulation prior to participating.
A) this is an ethically acceptable use of passive deception
B) this is an ethically acceptable use of active deception
C) this is an unethical experiment
D) according to APA guidelines, no informed consent was actually necessary in this experiment

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Passive deception involves withholding certain information from participants, such as the specific purpose of the study or certain aspects of the methodology, which is considered ethically acceptable when it does not harm the participants and is necessary for the integrity of the research. In this case, not informing participants about the imagery manipulation prior to the experiment is a form of passive deception used to prevent biasing the results, which is acceptable under APA guidelines as long as participants are debriefed afterward.

Dr Marcell Conducted a Memory Experiment in Which He Investigated