The relative importance of the ethical principles adopted by the American Psychological Association.

When two or more ethical principles are in conflict with one another, decision-makers are typically left to determine which of the two should be given most weight. Nonetheless, in the code of ethics adopted by the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA), principles are ranked in order of importance. This provides decision-makers with guidance in situations of conflict between ethical principles. In contrast to CPA's code of ethics, other professional codes do not provide such guidance. In a previous paper, we provided a philosophical rationale for a ranking of the ethical principles adopted by the American Psychological Association (APA) in order to help guide decision-making. In the present study, we investigated whether APA members collectively believe that some ethical principles are more important than others, and whether their views about the relative importance of ethical principles are consistent with the order (ranking) outlined in the CPA code. The results suggest that although APA members view all principles of their code as being important, they also view certain principles as carrying more weight. The implications of the findings for ethical decision-making are also discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The first decade of the Canadian Code of Ethics for Psychologists.

Discusses the development of the European Federation of Professional Psychologists Association (EFPPA) code of ethics, and the role of the Canadian Psychological Association's code in the process. The author states that the EFPPA now wants to go beyond statements of principle to consider both initial training and continuing professional development in ethics. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Les psychologues québécois et le Canadian code of ethics.

In 1962 the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) Code of Ethics for Psychologists was adopted unanimously by the executive assembly of the Corporation of Psychologists of the Province of Quebec (CPPQ) as the code of ethics. It is noteworthy that the first professional corporations appeared in Quebec in the middle of the XIXth century. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Explicit ambiguity: The 1992 ethics code as an oxymoron.

The author reviews the major themes emerging from commentators' reactions to the 1992 American Psychological Association ethics code and presents his own views as well. Commentators agreed that the 1992 code is improved by its increased breadth and specific attention to important issues not addressed in the previous code but criticized the code for its lack of clarity, its rampant qualifying language, and for seeming to protect the profession rather than the public. The author, finding the code overly long, detailed, and lawyered, recommends that those who revise the code in the 21st century adhere more closely to fundamental moral principles. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The code of ethics of the Canadian Psychological Association and the Canadian Medical Association: Ethical orientation and functional grammar analysis.

The Canadian Code of Ethics for Psychologists has been the subject of several recent investigations. This work has focused, for example, on the validity of its hierarchical organization of ethical principles. In the present research, we subjected the code to both a content and a functional grammar analysis. Our content analysis was aimed at determining the theoretical ethical orientation (deontological, teleological or caring) of each statement in the document, while the functional grammar analysis provided information about implicit messages embedded within the code. We contrasted the results of our analysis with those of previous work on the code of ethics adopted by the Canadian Medical Association (CMA). We concluded that, compared to CMA's code, the Canadian Psychological Association's document has greater educational value, is less authoritarian, provides a clear rationale for ethical behavior, and is more empowering to the decision-maker. We argue that the results of our functional grammar and content analyses have implications for future attempts to improve ethics codes for psychology and other professions. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Empirical and theory-driven investigations of the Canadian Code of Ethics for Psychologists.

This article summarizes empirical and theoretical research focusing on the structure and content of the Canadian Code of Ethics for Psychologists (Canadian Psychological Association [CPA], 1986, 1991, 2000). Functional grammar and content analyses show that, compared to other codes, the CPA code is written in a way that is empowering for the decision-maker. Moreover, it is more likely than other codes of ethics to provide a rationale for ethical behaviour. Preliminary support for the hierarchical organisation of the ethical principles of the CPA code exists but more research is needed to determine if the hierarchy leads to more consistent decision-making in the resolution of ethical dilemmas. Recommendations for future research directions are outlined. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

1992 CPA award for distinguished contributions to psychology as a profession--Prix 1992 de la SCP honorant une contribution remarquable à l'avancement de la psychologie comme profession.

The Canadian Psychological Association presented Dr. Barbara Wand the 1992 CPA Award for Distinguished Contributions to Psychology as a Profession for her outstanding contributions to the development of Psychology as a profession and a discipline in Canada. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Ethics: Code value and application.

Describes reasons for the Canadian Psychological Association's (1986) development of a code of ethics for Canadian psychologists and reports the application of the code by the present author in 4 cases. The need for such a basis in ethical decision-making is emphasized. (French abstract) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Emerging areas of ethical concern.

Reviews the development of the ethical standards of psychologists (see American Psychological Association 38:2), and considers whether "there is a significant gap between the requirements of practitioners and the guidelines" provided in this code of ethics. 3 questionnaire surveys of the 1969 membership of the American Psychological Association concerning (1) community psychology, (2) psychotherapy, and (3) research with human Ss are examined. Regarding ethics education, it is suggested that ethics be included as part of a more general course in professional problems. (16 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Ethical Procedures: Comment.

Comments on a note from Dr. Frederick C. Thorne appearing in the March issue of American Psychologist (1956, 11, 152), entitled "Psychologists, Heal Thyselves!" Thorne's note addressed the handling by the American Psychological Association of ethics cases involving individual members. Here, the current author seeks to present the application and enforcement of the ethical code by the Association as a much less moralistic, judgmental, and punitive process than Thorne portrays it. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Nonsexual posttherapy relationships: A conceptual framework to assess ethical risks.

Psychologists sometimes enter into nonsexual posttherapy relationships with former clients. These relationships may occur for a host of reasons, and psychologists have different views regarding the ethicality of these relationships. The American Psychological Association ethics code provides little specific guidance. This article proposes a collaborative and practical model to assess the ethical risks of nonsexual posttherapy relationships that is grounded in normative ethical principles and is drawn from literature about the therapeutic process and social role theory. The role of virtue ethics is discussed as a basis for developing character traits that help psychologists make difficult ethical decisions. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Application of the CPA code of ethics in planning field research: An organizational case.

Demonstrates the proactive use of the Canadian Psychological Association's (CPA's) code of ethics in planning field research by delineating the ethical implications of a research example (R. I. Sutton; see record 1989-31541-001) drawn from the organizational psychology literature. Seven steps describe how the CPA code was used to analyze Sutton's ethical dilemma. It is argued that the decision-making processes advocated by the CPA code of ethics is an effective means of identifying issues that would otherwise be neglected. (French abstract) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The Canadian Code of Ethics and the regulation of psychology.

Addresses the question of whether and how the Canadian Code of Ethics has been used as a regulatory document in Canada. After a discussion of the philosophy of codes of ethics and the principles associated with the regulation of professions, the various responses of Canadian regulatory bodies to the Canadian Psychological Association Code of Ethics is reviewed. Some of the strengths and limitations of the Canadian Code of Ethics as a regulatory document are discussed, as is the relationship between the Canadian Code of Ethics and other regulatory standards and regulations. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Comments on the 1991 CPA Code of Ethics.

Discusses the Canadian Psychological Association Code of ethics for psychologists, and its value. The author concludes that the 1991 Code succeeds in providing psychologists with a moral anchor and is a model that other professions would do well to emulate. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Being ethical in organizational research.

Suggests that even a researcher guided by moral intentions and learned in the code of ethics of the American Psychological Association is unprepared for the challenge of being ethical in organizational research. When dealing with persons in situ, in their normal role relations with others, ethical dilemmas arise from the researcher becoming entangled in a network of multiple roles and in the ambiguous and conflicting expectations derived from them. This article describes research with organized Ss and proposes role theory as a means for understanding ethical dilemmas in organizational research and for guiding the creation of research relationships with participants in which to address and moderate these dilemmas. It is proposed that research training and a code of ethics be developed that help researchers establish means for dealing with dilemmas in which there are no ethical solutions except those resting on the ad hoc consent of all parties. (26 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Will the new code help researchers to be more ethical?

A code of ethics has 2 largely incompatible objectives: to set forth enforceable minimal standards of conduct and to teach about or invoke ethical conduct. The section of the new American Psychological Association code dealing with research ethics achieves the former to some degree. However, it neither provides needed education in the ethics of research nor states where the reader might turn for such information. The code is particularly deficient in the following areas: privacy and confidentiality; institutional review boards; deception; debriefing; data sharing; and research on marginal populations, on children and adolescents, and in organizational contexts. Suggestions are offered for providing a bibliographic resource, in hard copy and online, that would stimulate independent interest, scholarship, education, and research on research ethics. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The evils of research: Or what my mother didn't tell me about the sins of academia.

Compares the plight of a research S with that of a student taking a routine examination in one of his classes, and judges the latter to be more vulnerable. A code of ethics to protect the hapless student from unscrupulous professors is generated by slightly modifying the proposed American Psychological Association code of research ethics. After this flight into fantasy, it is acknowledged that psychology's research deportment has not been entirely exemplary. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A critical history of CPA's various code of ethics for psychologists (1939–1986).

States that codes of ethics are historical products of the professionalization process; the form and content of codes of ethics develop within the specific historical context of the professionalization process of the occupational group for which they are written. During the 1950s and 1960s, the Canadian Psychological Association's (CPA) decisions regarding adoption of a code of ethics were centered on 2 major professionalization needs; namely, to secure a market niche for "psychologists" as this was defined by CPA, and to sustain this image as the basis for continuing funding for related psychological research. Different historical factors resulted in the decision by CPA, in the 1970s, to produce a made-in-Canada code of ethics. These were (a) the need of CPA to produce a document of professional self-regulation that recognized problems faced by psychological practitioners employed within various organizational structures, and (b) organizational problems of the CPA related to disciplinary unity and achievement of a national leadership role. The results of this critical historical analysis confirm the importance of codes of professional ethics as strategies of professionalization as hypothesized by J. Louw in 1990. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Ethics in psychology: Professional standards and cases.

Reviews the book, Ethics in psychology: Professional standards and cases by Patricia Keith-Spiegel and Gerald P. Koocher (see record 1985-97634-000). This well written and interesting book offers comprehensive coverage of how the American Psychological Association (APA) Ethical Principles of Psychologists (1981) apply in any setting where psychologists are involved. This book should be of special interest to Canadians who are interested in the new Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) Code of Ethics. The CPA Code organized the areas of concern covered by the APA code, plus new and emerging issues, under an umbrella of four general principles and many associated standards of conduct. Both the book and the CPA Code attempt to raise the level of consciousness about ethical issues and ethical decision-making. The result? They complement each other and together provide a useful combination of philosophy, standards, and concrete examples of unethical or questionable behaviour by a psychologist. All who read this book will become aware of the complexity associated with ethics in the practice of psychology. The authors are to be congratulated on providing a scholarly work, long needed by the public and psychologists alike. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)