Ethical, Legal, and Professional Issues in Assessment

Flashcards covering ethical, legal, and professional issues in assessment, including ethical codes, legal acts, and professional standards.

Test Worthiness

Refers to the reliability (consistency), validity (measuring what it is supposed to), cross-cultural fairness, and practicality of a test.

Level A Tests

Tests that can be administered, scored, and interpreted by responsible nonpsychologists who have carefully read the test manual and are familiar with the overall purpose of testing (e.g., educational achievement tests).

Level B Tests

Tests that require technical knowledge of test construction and use and appropriate advanced coursework in psychology and related courses (e.g., statistics, individual differences, and counseling).

Level C Tests

Tests that require an advanced degree in psychology or licensure as a psychologist and advanced training/supervised experience in the particular test.

Confidentiality

The ethical guideline to protect client information, similar to therapeutic relationships; sometimes contradicted by the law, requiring professionals to navigate difficult dilemmas.

Cross-Cultural Sensitivity

An ethical guideline to protect clients from discrimination and bias in testing, considering the effects of age, color, cultural identity, disability, ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic status.

Informed Consent

Permission given by a client after they have been provided information about the nature and purpose of all aspects of the assessment process.

Release of Test Data

Ethical codes assert that test data should only be released to others if clients have given their consent and generally only to individuals who can adequately interpret the test data and to those who will not misuse the information.

Test Administration

Ethical codes reinforce the notion that tests should be administered in a manner that is in accord with the way that they were established and standardized.

Test Security

Ethical codes remind professionals that it is their responsibility to make reasonable efforts to ensure the integrity of test content and the security of the test itself.

Moral Model

A framework that suggests six critical moral principles (autonomy, nonmaleficence, beneficence, justice, fidelity, and veracity) one should consider when making difficult ethical decisions.

Autonomy

Protecting the independence, self-determination, and freedom of choice of clients.

Nonmaleficence

The concept of "do no harm" when working with clients.

Beneficence

Related to promoting the good of society, which can be at least partially accomplished by promoting the client's well-being.

Justice

Providing equal and fair treatment to all clients.

Fidelity

Related to maintaining trust (e.g., keeping conversations confidential) in the counseling relationship and being committed to the client within that relationship.

Veracity

Being truthful and genuine with the client, within the context of the counseling relationship.

FERPA (Family Education Rights and Privacy Act)

Affirms the right to access test records in schools.

HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act)

Ensures the privacy of medical and counseling records.

Privileged Communication

Legal right to maintain the privacy of conversations with specified professionals (e.g., therapist-patient).

Freedom of Information Act

Affirms the right to access federal and state records.

Civil Rights Act

Requires that any test used for employment or promotion must be shown to be suitable and valid for the job in question.

ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act)

Requires accommodations for testing must be made for individuals with disabilities.

IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act)

Assures the right to be tested for learning disabilities in schools, with appropriate accommodations.

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act

Requires that assessment for programs must measure ability, not disability.

Carl Perkins Act

Ensures access to vocational assessment, counseling, and placement for individuals in specific "special populations."

AARC (Association for Assessment and Research in Counseling)

A division of ACA that focuses on promoting best practices in assessment, research, and evaluation in counseling.

Division 5 of APA (American Psychological Association)

Dedicated to promoting high standards in both research and practical application of psychological assessment, evaluation, measurement, and statistics.

Holistic Process (Assessment)

The importance of using multiple measures (formal tests, informal assessment instruments, and clinical interviews) for a broader and more accurate view of the client.