Answer

Use of Second Order Deception

The use of deception in science experiments has been a bone of contention for a long time. Others believe there are alternatives to the use of deception while others believe the scientific data obtained justifies the use of deception in human science experiments. In this paper, I review the article, Human use of Human Subjects, explaining why Herbert Kelman views the use of second order deception as problematic.

Herbert Kelman views the use of second order deception as problematic because it is a complex issue that cannot be simply solved by fiat. He begins by giving an example of an experiment where subjects were under deception that they were accomplices to the experimenter while in actual sense they were just subjects. This type of deception, he explains, is likely to damage the experimenter and subject relationship. “Such a procedure undermines the relationship between the experimenter and subject even further than simple misinformation about the purposes of the experiment,” Kelman claims. The possibility of mutual trust may actually be destroyed. However, looking at the issue of second order deception from another perspective, he realizes that the issue is more complex than he thought. He gives another example of an experiment where there were no other alternatives other than the use of second order deception. The experiment itself was useful and provided fundamental inputs to our present social psychology and thus getting rid of the experiment was not an option. He therefore concludes that, on the issue of second order deception, “We are confronted with a conflict of values that cannot be resolved by fiat.” Hence, Herbert Kelman views the use of second order deception as problematic because it is a complex issue that cannot be simply solved by fiat.

The use of a second order deception is like a necessary evil in science experiments. Thus, the right critical thinking question to ask is, what is the right amount of justification for the use of second order deception in science experiments?

In conclusion, the use of deception in science experiments has been a bone of contention for a long time. Herbert Kelman views the use of second order deception as problematic because it is a complex issue that cannot be simply solved by fiat. The right critical thinking question to ask is, what is the right amount of justification for the use of second order deception in science experiments?