What is a potential consequence of using deception in psychological research?

• A. Lower public trust
• B. Increased accuracy
• C. Greater participant willingness
• D. Faster recruitment

Answer: (A)

Using deception in research most directly threatens trust in science. When participants are misled, they may feel their autonomy was compromised and that researchers cannot be relied upon. If deception becomes known, or if the public learns that scientists sometimes hide the true nature of a study, confidence in psychology and scientific research can decline. This erosion of trust makes lower public trust the most plausible and important consequence.

Note that deception does not reliably boost data accuracy or participation. Any potential gains in control over responses are overshadowed by ethical concerns and the risk of reducing people’s willingness to participate in future studies. It also does not typically ensure faster recruitment, and ethical guidelines emphasize minimizing deception and prioritizing transparency and debriefing.