A researcher decides to tell participants something false about a research…

Answer: Active deception — giving participants false information or deliberately misleading them about key aspects of the study.

Why this is correct:

• Active deception = deliberately providing false or misleading information to participants about the nature, purpose, or procedures of the study.

• Example: telling participants a study measures memory when it actually measures social conformity.

Why the other choices are incorrect:

• Naturalistic observation involves observing behavior in a natural setting without interference; it does not involve giving false information.

• Role playing asks participants to act in certain roles or scenarios; it is not defined by misleading participants about the study's true nature.

• Dehoaxing means revealing the truth after the study (debriefing) to correct any deception; it is the post-study explanation, not the act of deceiving.

Ethical note: When active deception is used researchers should ensure the deception is justified by the study's value, minimize potential harm, and fully debrief participants afterwards.