Leakage of experimental information to potential future subjects by debriefed subjects

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Citation:

Diener, E., Matthews, R., & Smith, R. E. (1972). Leakage of experimental information to potential future subjects by debriefed subjects. Journal of Experimental Research in Personality, 6(2-3), 264-267.

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Abstract:

52 Ss from an introductory psychology class participated in a bogus laboratory study and were then debriefed. A supposed deception was revealed and Ss were sworn to secrecy. A bonus question on a midterm examination in their class revealed that of 440 controls, 11 learned of the deceptive elements of the experiment from debriefed Ss. It is concluded that in settings similar to those of the experiment, leakage of information is not a serious problem.

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