What is required when deception is used in research or teaching within counseling ethics?

• A. Consent is not necessary if the research is educational.
• B. Obtain informed consent unless waived by an ethics board; minimize deception and debrief participants; protect welfare.
• C. Debriefing is optional and only required if participants request it.
• D. Deception should never be used under any circumstances, even with consent.

Answer: (B)

The main idea here is that deception in research or teaching must be tightly controlled to protect participants, with clear steps to respect autonomy and welfare. When deception is used, you generally need informed consent from participants, unless an ethics board waives that requirement because the study meets criteria for a waiver (for example, minimal risk and the deception is essential for the research question). Even if deception occurs, it should be minimized to the smallest amount necessary. After participation, a thorough debriefing is required to reveal the true purpose and nature of the deception, address any potential harm, and provide support or resources if needed. Throughout, protecting welfare means safeguarding confidentiality and allowing participants to withdraw data if possible. So the best approach combines getting consent (or a board-approved waiver), minimizing deception, debriefing afterward, and prioritizing participants’ well-being. The other options conflict with ethical practice: consent is still required or potentially waived only under strict board approval, debriefing is not optional in deception scenarios, and deception is not categorically prohibited but must be justified and overseen.