Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct of the American Psychological Association is a document which includes main aspirational principles and standards that are used to manage ethical decisions in all areas of their work. These guidelines prescribe the correct ways of conducting research and experiencing other practices within various aspects of psychological field in accordance with ethics. Due to the essence of problems examined by psychologists they have to use disputable approaches and experimental methods. Empirical studies and research often involve recruiting or involvement of people as study subjects, that is why it is necessary to remember about human ethics and follow a number of enforceable rules of conduct.
Psychologists are always striving after acquiring scientific and professional knowledge in order to achieve better understanding of people's behavior, individual state of a person, community and society. This aspiration requires developing and conducting objective and grounded views and decisions related to human behavior. The Ethic Code helps psychologists construct their research and other scientific or professional work basing on certain principles and standards. Its goal is to comprise most cases which psychologists face with and provide protection and welfare for people and groups who they work with. APA Ethics Code consists of an Introduction, a Preamble, five General Principles and specific Ethical Standards. The General Principles section contains the ideals which psychologists should strive for within their professional activity. "General Principles, in contrast to Ethical Standards, do not represent obligations and should not form the basis for imposing sanctions" (APA 2010. p. 3). They include: (A) Beneficence and Nonmaleficence, (B) Fidelity and Responsibility, (C) Integrity, (D) Justice, (E) Respect for People's Rights and Dignity. The main idea of the principle A is to direct psychologists at discharge their work that is helpful for other people and does not harm to any participants of working process. Psychological judgments and influence which psychologists have on lives of others within different aspects should keep them aware of potential outcomes of their actions. Speaking of the second principle, it is necessary to mention that psychologists build trustful relationships and environment with people who they interact within their profession, they have certain obligations and take responsibility for their actions and decisions. They work for making a contribution and dedicate their time to the community. The principle of Integrity means that psychologists should deal only with honest and truthful scientific and teaching practices. It is very important to keep promises and escape deception and unqualified commitments. Justice principle is related to providing reasonable judgments and take appropriate measures in order to avoid unjust practices. Principle E consists in following: "psychologists respect the dignity and worth of all people, and the rights of individuals to privacy, confidentiality, and self-determination" (APA 2010, p.4). Awareness and respect of all cultural, gender, role, age, race and religious differences is an integral part of effective psychological intervention. This paper is aimed to pay special attention to the principle of Beneficence and Nonmaleficence and importance of ethics in psychological research.
Beneficence means to make profit in various psychological situations, though they involve some costs and risks; nonmaleficence is related to avoiding harmless actions and decisions. The balance between these two concepts underlies in interpreting different interactions and realizing the possible consequences of taken decisions.
Nowadays there is an increased popularity and recognition of studies based on investigations of larger groups of people. "The kinds of social groupings encompassed in this definition include communities, cultures, social orders, and populations of various description, including racial, ethnic, religious, cultural, and other minorities" (Gostin, L. 1991). All research, which involves participation of groups of people or populations are defined as the population-based research. This term is closely connected with causing different benefits and risks. The ethical aspect covers numerous questions such as whether research is needed and wanted, how it is conducted and in which ways research outcomes can affect the population. Qualified scientific studies which are examined from all relevant views are considered to provide the best protection to people.
Though the considerable part of research is conducted using cooperation and participation of different people within various areas of study the ethical standards represent basic values which are necessary for collaboration. Recurring to the role of ethics code in research it is necessary to refer to Standard 8 which is described in Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct. This standard is used to explain the main research and publication ethics with which psychologists should be consistent. Here it is underlined that before realizing the research it is necessary to provide exact information about the study and ensure that it will be conducted in compliance with the approbation. Then, there is a need to provide full detailed particulars related to a research: they include procedures, potential benefits and risks, purposes and rights of the participants to refuse to take part in investigation.
At the end of the research participants should be briefly informed about findings of the study and should be given answers to their questions. Moreover, when partakers are harmed during the study operation, it is essential to reduce possible risks by taking appropriate measures. Psychologists are responsible for the veracity of given information and confidentiality of the participants.
Being aware of the ethical issues which can occur in psychological profession is an integral part of becoming a mental health professional or consumer of psychological services. Moreover, it is necessary to take proper decisions and measures in cases when ethics code is infringed. The role of ethics cannot be underestimated not only in disputable situations, but from the very beginning to the end of psychological activities.
Reference List
Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct. (2010). American Psychological Association. Retrieved from http://www.apa.org/ethics/code/principles.pdf
Gostin, L. (1991). Ethical Principles for the Conduct of Human Subject Research: Population-Based Research and Ethics. 19 L. Med. & Health Care 191-201. Retrieved from http://scholarship.law.georgetown.edu/facpub/764
