Limitation of Deception (2.4)

2.4.1. Deception of participants in research may involve deception, concealment or covert observation. Deception of participants conflicts with the principle of informed consent, but in some areas of research it may sometimes be justified to withhold information about the purposes and procedures of the research. Researchers must make clear the precise nature and extent of any deception and why it is thought necessary. Emphasis on the need for consent does not mean that covert research can never be approved. Any departure from the standard of properly informed consent must be acceptable when measured against possible benefit to the participants and the importance of the knowledge to be gained as a result of the project or teaching session.  This must be addressed in all applications.

2.4.2. The threshold of justification is in general higher for research involving concealment or deception of participants than for research involving covert observation only.

2.4.3. The following matters will be taken into account by AUTEC when considering research involving covert elements:

2.4.3.1. Whether there are suitable alternatives involving less or no deception, concealment or covert observation, by which the aims of the research can be achieved;

2.4.3.2. Whether the precise nature and extent of the deception, concealment or covert  observation have been defined;

2.4.3.3. Normally, only adults with independent capacity should be included as participants in research involving deception. A special case must be made to justify inclusion of other participants;

2.4.3.4. Whether the intrinsic harm of the deception, concealment or covert observation, combined  with any risk of eroding community trust in research and with any other risks of harm to participants, is outweighed by the benefits likely to result from the research;

2.4.3.5. In general, in research involving deception, concealment or covert observation, adequate and prompt disclosure must be made and ‘debriefing’, including a sufficient explanation of the approach followed, provided to each participant as soon as practicable after the participant’s involvement is completed. The more significant the deception or concealment, the more thorough the ‘debriefing’ should be;

2.4.3.6. Where minimal covert observation only is involved, a researcher may submit that subsequent disclosure is not ethically required;

2.4.3.7. Where observation is conducted in a public place, the information available to the researcher is presumed to be in the public domain., although ethical limitations may apply to the use of such data.