The Ethics Code: Ethical Standard 9 - Assessment Flashcards
9.01: Assessments, recommendations, and reports, including forensic testimony, should be based on techniques that are __________________ and ________________. Forensic evaluations should normally include an examination of the person involved. If such an examination is not possible, psychologists must explicitly clarify what the effect will be on the __________________________, and limit their conclusions accordingly.
- Necessary
- Sufficient
- Validity of their reports
When psychologists are providing services that do not require a direct examination of the person (e.g., record review or consulatation), psychologists should ____________________, as well as explaining the sources of information they are using.
Explain this.
9.02: Assessment tools are to be used appropriately in light of relevant research. Assessment instruments should generally be used on populations for which they have demonstrated _______________ and _________________. Otherwise, the strengths and limitations of the results and interpretations should be described. Typically, assessment methods should be appropriate to the person’s _____________________ and competence, unless the use of another language is relevant to the assessment’s purpose.
- Validity
- Reliability
- Language preference
- 03: Psychologists usually must secure informed consent prior to completing an assessment. There are 3 exceptions to this requirement:
1) When the testing is mandated by _________ or government regulations
2) When the assessment is part of a routine ___________________ or organizational activity and informed consent is implied (e.g., as part of applying for a job)
3) When the testing is designed to assess _______________________
- Law
- Educational
- Decisional capacity
When persons have “_______________________________” or testing is mandated by law, psychologists use reasonably understandable language to explain the nature and purpose of the assessment.
“Questionable capacity to consent.”
When an interpreter is used, this information must be included as part of ____________________________. Psychologists must also ensure that confidentiality and test security are maintained. In their results, psychologists must discuss ____________________ of their data due to the use of an interpreter.
- Informed consent
- Potential limitations
9.04: The Ethics Code defines test data as “raw and scaled scores, client/patient ________________________________, and psychologists’ notes and ________________ concerning client/patient statements and their behavior during an examination.”
- Responses to test questions/stimuli
- Recordings
Psychologists should release test data to the ____________ or to whomever is designated on a client’s _____________________. From an ethical perspective, psychologists may refuse to release the data if they believe doing so would cause “_____________________, or the misuse or misinterpretation of test data.” However, as the Ethics Code notes, laws may nevertheless require that test data be released.
- Client
- Release of information form
- Substantial harm
If a client has not signed a release of information, psychologists may only release data if mandated by ________ or a ___________________.
- Law
- Court order
9.05: Psychologists who develop assessment instruments must ensure appropriate design, ___________________, validation, and reduction of _________.
- Standardization
- Bias
9.06: Psychologists interpret assessment results in light of all _____________________, including issues of culture and language. They should also indicate any ________________ of their interpretations.
- Relevant factors
- Limitations
9.07: Psychologists should not promote the use of assessment by ____________________, unless it is in the context of an appropriate training program.
Unqualified persons.
9.08: Psychologists should not base treatment or other decisions on _____________________ or measures.
Obsolete test data.
9.09: _____________________ retain ultimate responsibility for the use and interpretation of assessment instruments, regardless of whether they score and interpret the tests themselves or whether they use interpretation services.
Psychologists.
9.10: Psychologists should ______________ assessment results to clients. When the nature of the assessment situation precludes the sharing of results (e.g., security screenings, forensic examinations), the clients should be ______________________ that they will not receive the results.
- Explain
- Informed in advance
