Ethics

• 6 Pillars (Principles directly pertinent to the practice of psychological testing):

  1. Best interest of client

  2. Expertise of test user

  3. Standard of care and obsolete tests and test results

  4. Protection of the right to privacy

  5. Confidentiality and duty to Warn

  6. Consideration of Individual Differences
• Levels of complexity of tests:

  • Level A: basic paper and pencil test, minimum understanding required
  • Level B: specific training, understanding of psychometric principles, registered psychometrician with a minimum of a master’s degree
  • Level C: advanced training in statistics and psychometrics, includes projective and neuropsychological tests, used in clinical settings
• Reasons why access and use of psychological tests is restricted:

  1. Unqualified users can cause harm

  2. Invalid selection process for those who preview the test

  3. Leakage of item content destroys the integrity of the test and the profession
• RA 10029 allows Psychometricians to:

  1. Administer and score objective and structured personality tests

  2. Interpret results and prepare written reports

  3. Conduct preparatory intake interviews for psychological intervention sessions
• Degrees in terms of invading privacy:

  1. Individual counselling: least invasion, vital for therapy

  2. Personnel Selection: good amount of invasion, benefits the institution more

  3. Research: maximum invasion, benefits science and research
• How to protect data privacy of the client:

  1. Relevance of information: ask only appropriate questions

  2. Relevance of test and testing results: clarify the use of the test results

  3. Confidentiality: assure the client that information will only be seen by relevant people

  4. Anonymity: use pseudo names if sharing information

  5. Emphasize integrity and competence of the test user
• Informed consent:

  • Connects the arch between protection of privacy and confidentiality
  • Should include: reason for testing, types of tests to be used, intended use and range of material consequences, what testing information will be released and to whom
• Exceptions to informed consent:

  1. Legally mandated testing programs

  2. School-based group testing

  3. When consent is clearly implied
• 6 Pillars (Principles directly pertinent to the practice of psychological testing):

  1. Best interest of client

  2. Expertise of test user

  3. Standard of care and obsolete tests and test results

  4. Protection of the right to privacy

  5. Confidentiality and duty to Warn

  6. Consideration of Individual Differences
• Levels of complexity of tests:

  • Level A: basic paper and pencil test, minimum understanding required
  • Level B: specific training, understanding of psychometric principles, registered psychometrician with a minimum of a master’s degree
  • Level C: advanced training in statistics and psychometrics, projective and neuropsychological tests used in clinical settings
• Reasons why access and use of psychological tests is restricted:

  1. Unqualified users can cause harm

  2. Invalid selection process for those who preview the test

  3. Leakage of item content destroys the integrity of the test and the profession
• RA 10029 allows Psychometricians to:

  1. Administer and score objective and structured personality tests

  2. Interpret results and prepare written reports

  3. Conduct preparatory intake interviews for psychological intervention sessions
• Degrees in terms of invading privacy:

  1. Individual counseling: least invasion, vital for therapy

  2. Personnel Selection: good amount of invasion, benefits the institution more

  3. Research: maximum invasion, benefits science and research
• How to protect data privacy of the client:

  1. Relevance of information: ask only appropriate questions

  2. Relevance of test and testing results: clarify the use of the test results

  3. Confidentiality: assure the client that information will only be seen by relevant people

  4. Anonymity: use pseudo names if sharing information

  5. Emphasize integrity and competence of the test user
• Informed consent should include:

  1. Reason for testing

  2. Types of tests to be used

  3. Intended use and range of material consequences

  4. What testing information will be released and to whom