NUS Institutional Review Board (IRB)
GUIDELINES FOR THE USE OF DECEPTION
AND INCOMPLETE DISCLOSURE IN RESEARCH
- The Institutional Review Board (IRB) recognizes that the use of deception and incomplete disclosure in research are both valuable research techniques, yet they present special challenges to researchers to ensure that research is conducted ethically.
- This guideline defines the standards, parameters and procedures to be adopted when deception and/or incomplete disclosure is to be used in research.
Definitions:
a)Deception: Occurs when a researcher deliberately gives subjects false information about some aspect of the research.
b)Incomplete Disclosure(or Concealment): Occurs when a researcher knowingly withholds information about the real purpose or nature of the research.
- Deception or incomplete disclosure should not be used as a means to secure the participation of subjects in research.
- Deception or incomplete disclosure should occur only if the researcher has determined that such a technique is necessary to ensure valid results. In addition, deception should occur only after all alternatives to obtaining such valid results without resorting to deception have been explored and found inadequate.
- Researchers who propose to use incomplete disclosure or deception should explain in their IRB Application Form why such a technique is necessary. In addition, researchers should apply for a waiver of informed consent in the IRB Application Form andthe following statement (or some similar statement) may appear in the Participant Information Sheet or Consent Form:
“Some research designs require that the full extent of the study not be explained prior to participation. Although we have described the general nature of the tasks that you will be asked to perform, the full intent of the study will not be explained to you until after the completion of the study. At that time, we will provide you with a full debriefing which will include an explanation of the hypothesis that was tested and other relevant background information pertaining to the study. You will also be given an opportunity to ask any questions you have about the hypothesis and the procedures used in the study.”
- When the methodological requirements of a study necessitates deception or incomplete disclosure, the researcher is required to ensure the research subject’s understanding of the reasons for this action and to restore the quality of the relationship with the researcher.
- Debriefing should be given to research subjects whether or not they complete the research. Although the nature of debriefings may differ across studies, the goal should be to undo any potential harm or distress caused by the deception or incomplete disclosure used in the research, to remove any misconceptions that might have arisen andto educate the subjects.
- After the research data is collected, ethical practice requires that the researcher provide the subject with the following information in the debriefing:
a)The real nature of the study, the fact that deception or incomplete disclosureoccurred,and the clarification of any misconceptions that might have arisen as a result of the deception or incomplete disclosure;
b)The reason(s) the researcher felt deception or incomplete disclosure to be necessary;
c)The extent of the deception or incomplete disclosure, such as what the subjects were led to believe or kept unaware of, as contrasted with reality;
d)who the subject could contact if he/she has concerns/queries regarding the research or the debriefing materials; and
e)a statement that the subject is free to withdraw his/her data without penalty after being debriefed.
- This debriefingmay be incorporated into a document, which may be available for each research subject to keep at the conclusion of his/her participation.
IRB-GUIDE-020Page 1 of 2Version No: 1
Date of Revision: 17/08/2009