| Abstract: | Comments on the article by A. Ortmann and R. Hertwig (see record 1997-04731-011) in which the authors express concern about the increase in the use of deception in psychological research. It is noted that social psychologists in particular are interested in research questions that often can be studied only if deception is used in realistic situations. The history of the use of deception in social psychology is linked not only to changes in psychological theory and method but also to characteristics of American culture such as individualism and pragmatism. Thus, individual experimenters decide if the results of their research justify the use of deception. Moral philosophers do not agree that deception is wrong, and in our cultural context, the suggestion by Ortmann and Hertwig that all forms of deception be outlawed is unrealistic. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved) |
