Deception Debriefing

Definition

Deception debriefing involves explaining any deceptive elements and revealing the true purpose of the study to participants after it has concluded.

Analogy

Imagine watching a movie with a surprising twist at the end - this twist changes your understanding of everything you've seen before. That's similar to deception debriefing; once you know the real story (or aim), everything else falls into place.

Related terms

Ethical Guidelines: These are rules set by professional bodies which guide how studies should be conducted ethically including when and how to conduct debriefings after using deception.

Dehoaxing: This term refers specifically to revealing any deceptions used during an experiment as part of debriefing process.

Postexperimental Guilt Relief: A procedure followed after experiments involving stress or discomfort where researchers reassure subjects that their reactions were normal.