Ethical Standards And Guidelines Consider The Information Pr

Ethical Standards And Guidelinesconsider The Information Presented In

Consider the information presented in the readings this week as it can be related to your current or future employment as a practicing psychologist working with a given population. Select two or three ethical standards presented in those articles that will be relevant to you and that population. Specifically, discuss how those standards will be relevant to your work. Discuss the precautions that can be taken to ensure that the standards are not violated when conducting survey research with the identified population. In your response, incorporate how the concepts of ethical astuteness, demonstration of ethical character, and practicing ethical acuity pertain to the ethical standards you identified in this post.

Read the American Psychological Association's 2002 paper, " Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct ." Link to article ethical.pdf Link Read Tourangeau's 2004 article, " Survey Research and Societal Change ," from the Annual Review of Psychology, volume 55, issue 1, pages 775–801. Link to article Tourangeau's.pdf Optional Readings You may find the following readings helpful in understanding this unit's topics: Haverkamp, B. E. (2005). Ethical perspectives on qualitative research in applied psychology. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 52(2), 146–155. Kralik, D., Warren, J., Price, K., Koch, T., & Pignone, G. (2005). The ethics of research using electronic mail discussion groups. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 52(5), 537–545.

Paper For Above instruction

As psychologists engage in research and practice, adherence to ethical standards outlined by professional organizations such as the American Psychological Association (APA) and considerations of societal impact are paramount. This paper discusses two to three crucial ethical standards relevant to practicing psychologists working with specific populations, examines how these standards influence professional conduct, and explores strategies to mitigate violations during survey research. Furthermore, it integrates the concepts of ethical astuteness, demonstration of ethical character, and practicing ethical acuity to deepen understanding of ethical decision-making in psychology.

Identifying Key Ethical Standards in Practice

Among the APA's ethical principles, beneficence and nonmaleficence, fidelity and responsibility, and integrity are particularly vital when working with vulnerable populations. For instance, when conducting research involving minors or individuals with mental health disorders, psychologists must prioritize beneficence, ensuring that their actions promote the well-being of participants while minimizing potential harm. Equally, fidelity and responsibility oblige psychologists to establish trustworthiness and uphold their professional commitments, especially in sensitive research contexts. These standards collectively guide psychologists in maintaining ethical rigor while respecting the autonomy and rights of their participants.

Relevance to Practice and Population

When working with vulnerable groups such as children, elderly, or marginalized communities, the standard of beneficence underscores the importance of designing studies that do not exploit or unnecessarily burden participants. For example, in survey research with such populations, psychologists must implement safeguards such as informed consent, confidentiality, and voluntary participation. The fidelity standard fosters trustworthiness, ensuring transparent communication about the purpose of research and the use of data. These standards are directly linked to fostering a safe and ethically sound environment for research and service provision, aligning with the core values of psychology.

Precautions to Prevent Ethical Violations in Survey Research

To uphold these standards in survey research, psychologists should adopt multiple precautions. First, obtaining informed consent with clear explanations about the nature, risks, and benefits of participation is essential. Second, maintaining confidentiality and securing data prevent unauthorized access and breaches, especially in electronic communications, as discussed by Kralik et al. (2005). Third, regular ethical training and supervision can enhance practitioners' sensitivity to ethical issues (Haverkamp, 2005). Additionally, conducting thorough risk assessments and debriefing participants post-research ensure that any adverse effects are identified and mitigated promptly.

Integrating Ethical Astuteness, Character, and Acuity

Applying the concepts of ethical astuteness involves recognizing situations where ethical dilemmas may arise and responding appropriately. Demonstrating ethical character entails consistently acting according to moral principles even under pressure or uncertainty. Practicing ethical acuity means being perceptive and responsive to complex ethical issues that extend beyond formal rules. For example, during survey research with vulnerable populations, a psychologist demonstrating ethical acuity might detect subtle signs of distress among participants that require immediate attention, even if such issues are not explicitly covered by standard protocols. These concepts collectively enhance ethical decision-making and foster trustworthiness and integrity in psychological practice.

Conclusion

In conclusion, adherence to core ethical standards such as beneficence, fidelity, and integrity is essential for psychologists engaged in research with sensitive populations. Implementing precautions like informed consent, confidentiality measures, and ongoing ethics training ensures standards are not violated. Moreover, cultivating ethical astuteness, demonstrating strong ethical character, and practicing ethical acuity serve as vital frameworks for navigating complex ethical landscapes in research and practice. Collectively, these elements uphold the integrity of psychological work and safeguard the well-being of the populations served.

References

  • American Psychological Association. (2002). Ethical principles of psychologists and code of conduct. American Psychologist, 57*(12), 1060–1073.
  • Haverkamp, B. E. (2005). Ethical perspectives on qualitative research in applied psychology. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 52*(2), 146–155.
  • Kralik, D., Warren, J., Price, K., Koch, T., & Pignone, G. (2005). The ethics of research using electronic mail discussion groups. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 52*(5), 537–545.
  • Tourangeau, R. (2004). Survey research and societal change. Annual Review of Psychology, 55(1), 775–801.
  • Becker, H. S. (1992). Culture: A critique. University of Chicago Press.
  • Resnik, D. B. (2011). What is ethics in research & why is it important? National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.
  • Fisher, C. B. (2010). Decoding the ethics code: A practical guide for psychologists. Sage Publications.
  • Corey, G., Corey, M. S., & Callanan, P. (2014). Issues and Ethics in the Helping Professions. Cengage Learning.
  • Yarborough, B. J. H., et al. (2016). Ethics and electronic health records: Considerations for practice. Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association, 23(1), 124–128.
  • McCarthy, B. P., et al. (2019). Ethical considerations in internet-based research: Guidelines for best practice. Research Ethics, 15(2), 65–77.