Can I Lie for the Sake of Scientific Research?

Can Jews conduct audit studies? This refers to a study when researchers send out fictitious job or service applications, a random selection of which have a characteristic that may be discriminated against, and then they measure the differences in callback rates. This kind of study is often considered ethical because the scientific gains outweigh the deception and lack of consent, but is that the case in Jewish law? What does halakhah have to say about lying for the sake of research?

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