Ethical Issue and Action Plan
Write a 6-8 page assessment of an ethical issue in a case study and construct an ethical analysis based on the application of ethical principles.
Introduction
Note: The assessments in this course build upon one another, so you are strongly encouraged to complete them in sequence.
As a psychology professional, you will encounter ethical dilemmas at times in your work. Dealing with controversial and ambiguous real-life situations within the framework of a complex society provokes challenges. Familiarity with the APA principles, use of critical thinking, consulting with others, and ongoing gains in professional experience enhance our ability as professionals to effectively apply ethical standards in practice. In this assessment, you will apply this understanding to a case study problem.
Overview
Notes:
The assessments in this course build upon one another, so you are strongly encouraged to complete them in sequence.
For this assessment, you will continue to work with the same case study you chose for your Assessment
Review the Case Studies, if necessary.
In this assessment you will apply ethical principles to analyze an ethical dilemma within the case you chose.
Write a 6–8 page report in which you complete the following:
Brainstorm several alternatives for resolving the ethical dilemma in the case.
Analyze alternatives for resolving the ethical dilemma and come to a conclusion.
Analyze and document the possible ramifications for at least three alternatives. Then, choose a course of action.
Apply ethical codes and standards to support the plan of action.
Explain the research methods used in multiple research studies relevant to the case, and present the findings.
Explain your course of action, using research findings from at least two studies to support your plan. You can use (but are not required to use) additional research beyond the two studies to support your plan.
The following is the recommended structure for organizing your assessment:
Create a title page: Write a title that reflects the purpose of your work. It is suggested that you use the APA Paper Template [DOCX] to format your paper according to the APA manual (current edition).
Write an introduction: For the introduction section of your paper, include the title at the top of the first page. (In APA format, the word
Introduction is not used as a heading.) Briefly summarize:
The ethical issue in the case you have chosen.
How professional standards and other resources, in general terms, point toward solutions.
How the issue in general relates to larger societal problems.
Create a heading titled Applied Ethical Principles and Standards: Use the APA Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct to assess which of the principles and standards relate to the particular ethical issue in this case, and analyze how they do so.
Create a heading titled Alternative Solutions:
Brainstorm several alternatives for resolving the ethical dilemma in the case. Thoroughly analyze the possible ramifications for at least three alternatives and document them. Then, choose a course of action.
Explain your chosen course of action and support it based on both ethical principles and current psychological research (published within the past decade).
Create a heading title Research: Present at least two research studies that support your thinking and approach to ethics in the case. Present the research methods and findings and analyze the relevance of the findings to the case.
Create a heading titled Conclusion: Briefly summarize the importance of the problem and make a compelling appeal for implementation of your action plan.
Keep in mind that while your writing must conform to APA standards, you must explain all information in a manner that can be understood easily by a nonacademic or nonscientific audience.
Refer to the Ethical Issue and Action Plan Scoring Guide to ensure you meet the grading criteria for this assessment.
Additional Requirements
Your assessment should meet the following requirements:
Written communication: Written communication is well organized and free from errors that detract from the overall message.
APA style: Comply with current APA style and formatting.
Number of resources: A minimum of three academic resources.
Length: 6–8 typed, double-spaced pages, excluding the cover page and references.
Font and font size: Times New Roman, 12 point.
