Assessments
Pollack Corp, an international bug extermination business has a experienced high turnover due to new employees specific phobias related to bugs. They hire an I/O psychologists to participate in their HR hiring process in order to assess applicants' anxiety ONLY. The psychologist uses the Rorschach to assess psychosis.
What is unethical?
Ethical Standard 9.02
(a) Psychologists administer, adapt, score, interpret, or use assessment techniques, interviews, tests, or instruments in a manner and for purposes that are appropriate in light of the research on or evidence of the usefulness and proper application of the techniques.
A trained and licensed clinical psychologists determines they will make more money operating as an I/O consultant to businesses, so they close their practice. The psychologist uses the clinical assessments on which they were trained to support HR decisions. The battery the psychologist developed worked well until HR asked the psychologist to administer a common I/O assessment of which the psychologist was unfamiliar. The psychologist disclosed their limitations and training, and referred the client to another psychologists. This, unfortunately, held up the hiring process resulting in the candidate taking another position.
What is ethical?
Ethical Standard 2.01 Boundaries of Competence
(a) Psychologists provide services, teach, and conduct research with populations and in areas only within the boundaries of their competence, based on their education, training, supervised experience, consultation, study, or professional experience.
An I/O psychologist who has a Psy.D. and MBA in Marketing is employed by a large company as the Marketing Director. The Psychologist is often consulted by HR in hiring decisions. This includes interpreting NEO and 16 PF scores of new hires to see which department in which they should be placed. The marketing department is in desperate need of capable staff. Their numbers have been suffering which reflects poorly on the psychologist's leadership. The company; however, has a clear policy on distribution of talent, which if adhered to will leave the marketing department with fewer qualified staff.
The psychologist agrees to interpret scores and make placement recommendations based on the findings. This decision is...
What is unethical.
Ethical Standard 3.06 Conflict of Interest
Psychologists refrain from taking on a professional role when personal, scientific, professional, legal, financial, or other interests or relationships could reasonably be expected to (1) impair their objectivity, competence, or effectiveness in performing their functions as psychologists
An I/O psychologist is contracted by their alma mater to assess its science departments staff for competence. The I/O, a regular donor to the institution and avid sports fan decides they don't want monetary compensation as long as they can have season tickets for the school's squash team so he can attend. The face-value of the tickets is only $15.
This arrangement is probably...
What is ethical?
Ethical Standard 6.06
Barter is the acceptance of goods, services, or other nonmonetary remuneration from clients/patients in return for psychological services. Psychologists may barter only if (1) it is not clinically contraindicated, and (2) the resulting arrangement is not exploitative.
True or false. I/O Psychologists cannot be involved in decisions about the implementation of equitable bonus/incentive plans.
What is False?
The Pollack Foundation, a company that connects Spanish/Arabic speaking (non-English speaking) interpreters to Arabic speaking clients to facilitate a service project in Central America. To determine measure interpreters' potential and suitability, The Pollack Foundation's I/O psychologist administers and interprets the 16PF in English. Linguistic abilities were not indicated or considered in interpretations.
What is unethical?
Ethical standard 9.06
When interpreting assessment results, including automated interpretations, psychologists take into account the purpose of the assessment as well as the various test factors, test-taking abilities, and other characteristics of the person being assessed, such as situational, personal, linguistic, and cultural differences, that might affect psychologists/ judgments or reduce the accuracy of their interpretations. They indicate any significant limitations of their interpretations.
A trained and licensed clinical psychologists determines they will make more money operating as an I/O consultant to businesses, so they close their practice. The psychologist uses the clinical assessments on which they were trained to support HR decisions. The battery the psychologist developed worked well until HR asked the psychologist to administer a common I/O assessment of which the psychologist was unfamiliar. The psychologist disclosed their limitations and training, but consulted an I/O psychologist, studied relevant material, confidently and properly administered and interpreted the results. The applicant, who was otherwise phenomenal, was not hired based on the interpretation of these results. This made the psychologist feel lousy. The psychologists decision to administer the test
What is ethical?
Ethical Standard 2.01 Boundaries of Competence
(c) Psychologists planning to provide services, teach, or conduct research involving populations, areas, techniques, or technologies new to them undertake relevant education, training, supervised experience, consultation, or study.
An I/O psychologist who has a Psy.D. and MBA in Marketing is employed by a large company as the Marketing Director. The Psychologist is often consulted by HR in hiring decisions, but charges a separate fee for services rendered which is superior to their normal salary. The psychologist is able to control the amount of applicants the marketing department chooses to interview. Every interviewee receives an assessment and the psychologist gets paid regardless of the company's decision to hire. Although it costs the company even more to outsource an I/O psychologist, the psychologist insists due to conflict of interest. The psychologist's decision to refrain from testing new hires is...
What is Ethical?
Ethical Standard 3.06 Conflict of Interest
Psychologists refrain from taking on a professional role when personal, scientific, professional, legal, financial, or other interests or relationships could reasonably be expected to (1) impair their objectivity, competence, or effectiveness in performing their functions as psychologists
An I/O psychologist is contracted by their alma mater to assess its science departments staff for competence. The I/O, a regular donor to the institution and avid sports fan decides they don't want monetary compensation as long as they can have four 50-yard line season tickets for the school's number 1 ranked football team. The face value of the tickets are $500/ticket/game. The psychologist can't make all of the games, but intends to sell the tickets for games they cannot attend. The value of the tickets is far beyond the rate the psychologist would normally charge.
This arrangement is probably...
What is unethical? (probably)
Ethical Standard 6.06
Barter is the acceptance of goods, services, or other nonmonetary remuneration from clients/patients in return for psychological services. Psychologists may barter only if (1) it is not clinically contraindicated, and (2) the resulting arrangement is not exploitative.
*The intent to sell the tickets for monetary value; the monetary value of the tickets; and the potential for exploitation.
When new technology and/or systems are implemented to increase productivity based on the I/O psychologists' recommendations. Ensuring impacted parties are adequately trained can be the responsibility of the I/O psychologist.
What is True?
Ethical Standard 2.01 Boundaries and Competence
(c) Psychologists planning to provide services, teach or conduct research involving populations, areas, techniques, or technologies new to them undertake relevant education, training, supervised experience, consultation, or study.
The NFL is attempting to be proactive about concussion protocol. They decide to measure baseline cognitive functioning to determine cognitive capacity of athletes prior to their first NFL collision. This data will be collected again when the player retires to measure the impact of multiple collisions.
As part of collective bargaining between the NFLPA (National Football League Players Association) and the NFL owners, an I/O psychologist that is an expert in cognitive assessment is consulted to administer and interpret cognitive tests. The psychologist releases the report, which included all scaled scores; however, the unbeknownst to the NFLPA, the owners (who absorbed the full cost of assessments) requested the raw scores for all timed sections of the tests, because processing speed is an important indicator for success on the field. This is supported by the evidence-base, and the owners, (the client/people paying the psychologist) signed a release of information agreement before services were rendered.
Despite the client's seemingly reasonable request, the psychologist does not provide the information.
What is ethical?
Ethical Standard 9.04 Release of Test Data
The term 'test data' refers to raw and scaled scores, client patient responses to test questions or stimuli, and psychologists' notes and recordings concerning client/patient statements and behavior during an examination. Those portions of test materials that include client/patient responses are included in the definitions of test data. Pursuant to a client/patient release, psychologist client/patient release, psychologists provide test data to the client/patient or other persons identified in the release. Psychologists may refrain from releasing test data to protect a client/patient or others from substantial harm or misuse or misrepresentation of the data or the test, recognizing that in many instances release of confidential information under these circumstances is regulated by law.
*key - there are two clients in the scenario.
An I/O psychologist who has a Psy.D. and MBA in Marketing is employed by a large company as the Marketing Director. The Psychologist is often consulted by HR in hiring decisions. One day, a colleague in a different department with a lateral position, with whom the psychologist had a close relationship was under investigation for embezzlement. The psychologist was consulted by HR to determine whether the employee was lying.
The psychologist agreed to assess his colleague/friend.
What is unethical?
Ethical Standard 3.05 Multiple Relationships
(a) A psychologist refrains from entering into a multiple relationship if the multiple relationship could reasonably be expected to impair the psychologist's objectivity, competence, or effectiveness in performing his or her functions as a psychologist, or otherwise risks exploitation or harm to the person with whom the professional relationship exists.
An I/O psychologist consults for a company that determines they need two I/O psychologists. This will cut the current psychologists production and salary in half. The I/O psychologist is asked to be on the interview committee, and declines because they feel it will ultimately impact them financially. Based on the psychologist's rationale, Declining participation is...
What is Ethical?
Ethical Standard 3.06 Conflict of Interest
Psychologists refrain from taking on a professional role when personal, scientific, professional, legal, financial, or other interests or relationships could reasonably be expected to (1) impair their objectivity, competence, or effectiveness in performing their functions as psychologists
An I/O psychologist is not compensated for their services rendered by a non-profit organization. The psychologist was understanding and did not want to badger the Executive Director for payment, but sent monthly statements which only included the amount owed were ignored. A news article was published about the company receiving a 15 million anonymous donation which could be allocated at their discretion. 1-year and 12-monthly statements later, the psychologist was fed up and contacted a collection agency.
In this example, contacting the collection agency to recover funds was...
What is unethical...
6.04 Fees and Financial Arrangements
(e) If the recipient of services does not pay for services as agreed, and if psychologists intend to use collection agencies or legal measures to collect the fees, psychologists first inform the person that such measures will be taken and provide that person an opportunity to make prompt payment.
True or False? Using employee satisfaction and opinion surveys to prevent unionization without disclosing purpose is a potential ethical violation.
What is True.
In the midst of a harassment accusation against the CEO of a major corporation, an I/O psychologist is consulted to assess the validity of the accuser's statement. This is a standard procedure that is disclosed to and agreed upon by all employees when they are hired. As part of the test battery, the psychologist uses the TOMM (Test of Memory Malingering) an evidence-based, and psychometrically valid assessment tool for malingering.
Ethical Standard 9.02 Use of Assessments
(a) Psychologists administer, adapt, score, interpret, or use assessment techniques, interviews, tests, or instruments in a manner and for purposes that are appropriate in light of the research on or evidence of usefulness and proper application of the techniques.
An I/O psychologist who has a Psy.D. and MBA in Marketing is employed by a large company as the Marketing Director. The Psychologist is often consulted by HR in hiring decisions. One day, a co-worker in the sales department with a subordinate position, was under investigation for yelling at potential clients that did not buy their product.
The psychologist was consulted by HR to determine whether the employee is emotionally unstable and unfit to work. Recently the employee yelled at the psychologist in the hallway for walking too slow, and the two got into a verbal altercation.
The psychologist agreed to assess the employee and uses his altercation in the hallway to support his decision that the employee is unstable.
What is unethical? (probably)
Ethical Standard 3.05 Multiple Relationships.
A psychologist refrains from entering into a multiple relationship if the multiple relationship could reasonably be expected to impair the psychologist's objectivity, competence, or effectiveness in performing his or her functions as a psychologist, or otherwise risks exploitation or harm to the person with whom the professional relationship exists.
Ethical Standard 2.06
(a) Psychologists refrain from initiating an activity when they know or should know that there is a substantial likelihood that their personal problems will prevent them from performing their work-related activities in a competent manner.
An I/O psychologist consults for a company that determines they need two I/O psychologists. This will cut the current psychologists production and salary in half. The I/O psychologist is asked to be on the interview committee, and declines because they don't want the new psychologist to challenge their recommendations. Based on the psychologist's rationale, Declining participation is...
What is unethical? (probably)
3.09 Cooperation With Other Professionals
When indicated and professionally appropriate, psychologists cooperate with other professionals in order to serve their clients/patients effectively and appropriately.
An I/O psychologist receives frequent referrals from another, well known I/O psychologists when they have too much on their plate. The psychologist that receives the referrals charges the client the agreed upon rate, and sends the well-known psychologist 10% for the referral. The arrangement is mutually beneficial.
The arrangement is also...
What is unethical?
6.07 Referrals and Fees
When psychologists pay, receive payment from, or divide fees with another professional, other than in an employer-employee relationship, the payment to each is based on the services provided and is not based on the referral itself.
Developing processes for layoff notifications and facilitating exit interviews does NOT fall within the responsibilities of an I/O.
What is False?
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts must release information about its employees that in private sector industries would be considered confidential. After a few questionable decisions, the Director of DPH was asked by the governor (after multiple complaints) to take a battery of psychological tests to determine emotional stability. The director agreed publically in a press conference while stating the importance of transparency. The Commonwealth (i.e., Massachusetts residents' tax dollars) paid for the testing.
On the PAI the director's scores were clinically elevated for depression. The governor wants the psychologist (functioning as a consultant to the Commonwealth--also paid by tax dollars) to release the findings to the public, since they are in essence, the client. The director agreed to release the information to the public before the testing, but was unaware of the results. The psychologist informed the Director of the limits of confidentiality based on the signed agreement.
The psychologist agrees to release the information based on the Director of DPH's press conference statement and signed agreement. This information was published in the Boston Globe triggering the Director resulting in hospitalization. The psychologists decision to release the information was...
What is unethical or ethical? (Rationale needed for points)
Ethical Standard 3.07: Third-Party Requests for Services
When psychologists agree to provide services to a person or entity at the request of a third party, psychologists attempt to clarify at the outset of the service the nature of the relationship with all individuals or organizations involved. This clarification includes the role of the psychologists, an identification of who is the client, the probable uses of the services provided or the information obtained, and the fact that there may be limits to confidentiality.
Ethical Standard 4.05 Disclosures
(a) Psychologists may disclose confidential information with the appropriate consent of the organizational client, the individual client/patient, or another legally authorized person on behalf of the client/patient unless prohibited by law.
Ethical Standard 3.4 Avoiding Harm
Psychologists take reasonable steps to avoid harming their clients/patients, students, supervisees, research participants, organizational clients, and others with whom they work, and to minimize harm where it is foreseeable and unavoidable.
Ethical Standard 1.03 Conflicts Between Ethics and Organizational Demands
If the demands of an organization with which psychologists are affiliated or for whom they are working conflict with this Ethics Code, psychologists clarify the nature of the conflict, make known their commitment to the Ethics Code, and to the extent feasible, resolve the conflict in a way that permits adherence to the Ethics Code.
An I/O psychologist who has a Psy.D. and MBA in Marketing is employed by a large company as the Marketing Director. The Psychologist is often consulted by HR in hiring decisions. A co-worker in the sales department with a subordinate position, was under investigation for yelling at potential clients that did not buy their product.
The psychologist was consulted by HR to determine whether the employee is emotionally unstable and unfit to work. The employee and the psychologist have a working relationship, and their kids play baseball together, but the relationship is mainly superficial. He has seen the employee yell at umpires at the games. In his defense, the calls were really crappy, and the umps probably deserved to get yelled at.
The psychologist agreed to assess the employee, but does not reference any data observed outside of the employment setting and the assessment. The decision to assess the employee was...
What is ethical? (probably)
Ethical Standard 3.05 (continued) Multiple Relationships
Multiple relationships that would not reasonably be expected to cause impairment or risk exploitation or harm are not unethical.
Ethical Standard 2.04 Bases for Scientific and Professional Judgments
Psychologists' work is based upon established scientific and professional knowledge of the discipline.
An I/O psychologist with their own non-profit organization tests all of their administrative staff as part of the HR process. It's because the job is high paced, and processing speed and verbal comprehension are incredibly important for their positions. The psychologists nephew applies once he's done with grad school, and he is not tested.
The decision not to test the nephew is probably...
What is Unethical?
Ethical Standard 3.06 Conflict of Interest
Psychologists refrain from taking on a professional role when personal, scientific, professional, legal, financial, or other interests or relationships could reasonably be expected to (1) impair their objectivity, competence, or effectiveness in performing their functions as psychologists
An I/O psychologist that chairs the largest most costly department of an accredited institution must justify their tuition fees based on their accreditation status to their respective boards of accreditation. The organization, under the leadership of the I/O psychologist, significantly under reported their students licensing board pass rates (which can impact accreditation), in order to maintain accreditation and justify the cost for tuition. The accreditation status was also used as a marketing tool to increase the number of applicants, thus increasing the number of students paying tuition. Additionally, accreditation is necessary for government funding including financial aid.
In this very hypothetical scenario, the misrepresentation of performance statistics by the chair is...
6.06 Accuracy in Reports to Payors and Funding Sources
In their reports to payors for services or sources of research funding, psychologists take reasonable steps to ensure the accurate reporting of the nature of the service provided or research conducted, the fees, charges, or payments, and where applicable, the identity of the provider, the findings, and the diagnosis.
In their mid-year review, two employees who are managed by the same person confidentially disclosed sexual harassment. These reports were independent of one another and were part of an anonymous survey. However, based on other answers in the survey (including demographic information) it was evident who the employees were and which manager sexually harassed them.
True or false. Because the survey is anonymous, the I/O psychologist has no ethical responsibility to take action.
4.05 Disclosures
(a) Psychologists may disclose confidential information with the appropriate consent of the organizational client, the individual client or another legally authorized person on behalf of the client/patient unless prohibited by law.
3.04 Avoiding harm
Psychologists take reasonable steps to avoid harming their clients, students, supervisees, research participants, organizational clients and others with whom they work, and to minimize harm where it is foreseeable and unavoidable.