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Moral accountability and debriefing
1Department of Philosophy, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, USA.
Kennedy Institute of Ethics Journal
|October 22, 2008
Summary
Debriefing in deceptive research should not require an apology. While standard practice involves disclosing deception and mitigating harm, this paper argues against mandatory apologies, reframing debriefing as a relationship-building opportunity.
Area of Science:
- Research Ethics
- Psychology
- Sociology
Background:
- Deceptive research is common, necessitating ethical considerations for participant interaction.
- Standard debriefing protocols focus on disclosure and harm mitigation.
- The ethical obligation of apologies in debriefing remains underexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To critically examine the ethical necessity of apologies in research debriefing.
- To explore alternative ethical frameworks for debriefing in deceptive research.
- To redefine the role of debriefing in the researcher-participant relationship.
Main Methods:
- Philosophical analysis of ethical principles in research.
- Review of existing literature on research ethics and debriefing.
- Argumentative essay based on ethical reasoning.
Main Results:
- The ethical obligation to apologize in research debriefing is not universally applicable.
- Debriefing can serve to strengthen the researcher-participant relationship without necessitating remorse.
- Focusing on apology may detract from other crucial aspects of ethical debriefing.
Conclusions:
- An apology is not a mandatory component of ethical debriefing in most deceptive research scenarios.
- Debriefing should be viewed as a constructive interaction to solidify the researcher-participant relationship.
- Ethical guidelines for debriefing should prioritize transparency and participant well-being over obligatory apologies.
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