Reference no: EM133672941

Problem: Culture and Ethics

By now, you have gained an understanding of the many issues in psychological testing. As in all realms of psychology, one must take into consideration the ethics code when utilizing and interpreting tests. Assessments are used to inform treatment, provide diagnostic clarity, and help make vital decisions about education and careers. Therefore, extreme care must be taken to ensure that ethics codes are followed to ensure autonomy, avoid doing harm, and guarantee the appropriate utilization of the tests.

A major component of ensuring ethical practice is considering culture and its impact on tests. Differences in culture affect how tests are normed, developed, utilized, and interpreted. For example, an assessment that is normed on one group but utilized as a tool to make decisions with another group would not be considered ethical. Such examples have been the focus of much debate in the community, as tests are often misused and interpreted without these considerations. You will explore the many cultural and ethical issues surrounding the use of tests and assessments within the world of psychology.

Discussion Post: Assessments in Professional Organizations

For this discussion, you will describe the role of assessments for professional organizations making selection, placement, training, and performance evaluation decisions. Then you will discuss what steps organizations should take to avoid abuses such as marginalization. Consider the role psychological tests play in a professional workplace. Some people argue against using these tests at all in a work environment, while others argue for using them under the right circumstances.

In your initial post, describe one way that professional organizations could use psychological assessments to make employment decisions. Is the current practice fair to everyone? Why or why not? Support your analysis with insights from this week's required readings.