Banks, G. C., Knapp, D. J., et al. (2022).
Industrial and Organizational Psychology,
15(2), 220–235. doi:10.1017/iop.2021.143
Abstract
Ethical decision making has long been recognized as critical for industrial-organizational (I-O) psychologists in the variety of roles they fill in education, research, and practice. Decisions with ethical implications are not always readily apparent and often require consideration of competing concerns. The American Psychological Association (APA) Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct are the principles and standards to which all Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology (SIOP) members are held accountable, and these principles serve to aid in decision making. To this end, the primary focus of this article is the presentation and application of an integrative ethical decision-making framework rooted in and inspired by empirical, philosophical, and practical considerations of professional ethics. The purpose of this framework is to provide a generalizable model that can be used to identify, evaluate, resolve, and engage in discourse about topics involving ethical issues. To demonstrate the efficacy of this general framework to contexts germane to I-O psychologists, we subsequently present and apply this framework to five scenarios, each involving an ethical situation relevant to academia, practice, or graduate education in I-O psychology. With this article, we hope to stimulate the refinement of this ethical decision-making model, illustrate its application in our profession, and, most importantly, advance conversations about ethical decision making in I-O psychology.
Here are some thoughts:
Banks and colleagues present a comprehensive and accessible framework designed to help industrial-organizational (I-O) psychologists navigate ethical dilemmas in their diverse roles across academia, research, and applied practice. Recognizing that ethical challenges are not always immediately apparent and often involve conflicting responsibilities, the authors argue for the need for a generalizable and user-friendly decision-making process.
Developed by the SIOP Committee for the Advancement of Professional Ethics (CAPE), the proposed framework is rooted in empirical evidence, philosophical foundations, and practical considerations. It consists of six recursive stages: (1) recognizing the ethical issue, (2) gathering information, (3) identifying stakeholders, (4) identifying alternative actions, (5) comparing those alternatives, and (6) implementing the chosen course of action while monitoring outcomes. The framework emphasizes that ethical decision making is distinct from other types of decision making because it often involves ambiguous standards, conflicting values, and competing stakeholder interests.
To demonstrate how the framework can be applied, the article presents five real-world scenarios: a potential case of self-plagiarism in a coauthored book, a dispute over authorship involving a graduate assistant, an internal consultant pressured to provide coaching without adequate training, a data integrity dilemma in external consulting, and a case of sexual harassment involving a faculty advisor. Each case illustrates the complexity of ethical considerations and how the framework can guide thoughtful action.
The authors emphasize that ethical behavior is not just about adhering to written codes but about developing the cognitive and emotional skills to navigate gray areas effectively. They encourage ongoing refinement of the framework and call on the I-O community to foster greater ethical awareness through practice, dialogue, and education. Ultimately, the article aims to strengthen ethical standards across the profession and support psychologists in making decisions that are not only compliant but also fair, responsible, and contextually informed.
