Testing & Professional Ethics

Testing & Professional Ethics

The American Psychological Association's (APA) Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct (hereinafter referred to as the Ethics Code) consists of
1. A Preamble
2. Five General Principles
3. Specific Ethical Standards

Preamble
This ethics code provides a common set of principles and standards upon which psychologists build their professional and scientific work. It is intended to provide specific standards to cover most situations encountered by psychologists.
The development of a dynamic set of ethical standers for psychologists’ work-related conduct requires a personal commitment and lifelong effort to act ethically; to encourage ethical behavior by student, supervisees and colleagues and to consult with others concerning ethical problems.

General Principle
There are five general principles such as-

Principle A: Beneficence and Nonmaleficence
Psychologists strive to benefit those with whom they work and take care to do no harm. In their professional actions, psychologists seek to safeguard the welfare and rights of those with whom they interact professionally and other affected persons.

Principle B: Fidelity and Responsibility Psychologists establish relationships of trust with those with whom they work. They are aware of their professional and scientific responsibilities to society and to the specific communities in which they work.

Principle C: Integrity
Psychologists seek to promote accuracy, honesty, and truthfulness in the science, teaching, and practice of psychology. In these activities psychologists do not steal, cheat, or engage in fraud, subterfuge, or intentional misrepresentation of fact.

Principle D: Justice Psychologists recognize that fairness and justice entitle all persons to access to and benefit from the contributions of psychology and to equal quality in the processes, procedures, and services being conducted by psychologists.

Principle E: Respect for People's Rights and Dignity Psychologists respect the dignity and worth of all people, and the rights of individuals to privacy, confidentiality, and self-determination.

Specific Ethical Standards
 Use of Testing
 Informed Consent
 Release of test data
 Test Construction
 Interpreting test result
 Assessment by unqualified persons
 Test scoring and interpretation services
 Explaining test results
 Maintaining test security