Ethical and Social Considerations in Testing Jemellene Baluyot Department of Behavioral Sciences University of the Philippines Manila

Ethical and Social Ethical and Social Considerations in Considerations in TestingTestingJemellene BaluyotJemellene Baluyot

Department of Behavioral SciencesDepartment of Behavioral Sciences

University of the Philippines ManilaUniversity of the Philippines Manila

Ethical ConsiderationsEthical Considerations

In both their research and practical applications of their In both their research and practical applications of their procedures, psychologists have long been concerned procedures, psychologists have long been concerned with questions of professional ethics.with questions of professional ethics.

A concrete example of this concern is the systematic A concrete example of this concern is the systematic empirical program followed in the early 1950s to develop empirical program followed in the early 1950s to develop the first formal code of ethics for the profession, which the first formal code of ethics for the profession, which resulted in the preparation of a set of standards that was resulted in the preparation of a set of standards that was officially adopted by the American Psychological officially adopted by the American Psychological Association (APA) and first published in 1953.Association (APA) and first published in 1953.

These standards undergo continual review and These standards undergo continual review and refinement, of which revised editions and periodically refinement, of which revised editions and periodically published.published.

Ethical Issues in Psych Ethical Issues in Psych Testing and AssessmentTesting and Assessment

Since the 1970s there has been a Since the 1970s there has been a heightened concern not only with ethical heightened concern not only with ethical problems but also with broader questions problems but also with broader questions of values in all fields on both theoretical of values in all fields on both theoretical and applied psychology.and applied psychology.

In the testing area, thoughtful and In the testing area, thoughtful and provocative analyses of the role of values provocative analyses of the role of values and of the underlying ethical rationale of and of the underlying ethical rationale of various practices have been presented .various practices have been presented .


The APA Ethics Code contains much that The APA Ethics Code contains much that is applicable to psychological testing.is applicable to psychological testing.

One of the standards – Evaluation, One of the standards – Evaluation, Assessment, or Intervention – is directly Assessment, or Intervention – is directly concerned with the development and use concerned with the development and use of psychological assessment techniques.of psychological assessment techniques.

Another one – Forensic Activities – Another one – Forensic Activities – contains a section devoted specifically to contains a section devoted specifically to assessments in legal contexts.assessments in legal contexts.


In addition, the ethical standard on In addition, the ethical standard on Privacy and Confidentiality, although Privacy and Confidentiality, although broader in scope, is also highly relevant broader in scope, is also highly relevant to testing, as are most other general to testing, as are most other general principles and several of the ethics principles and several of the ethics standards.standards.


Besides the APA, other related Besides the APA, other related professional groups and associations professional groups and associations have developed their own ethics codes have developed their own ethics codes and guidelines. and guidelines. Responsibilities of Users of Standardized Tests Responsibilities of Users of Standardized Tests (the “RUST” (the “RUST”

Statement), adopted in 1989 by the American counseling Statement), adopted in 1989 by the American counseling Association (ACA)Association (ACA)

Principles for the Validation and Use of Personnel Selection Principles for the Validation and Use of Personnel Selection ProceduresProcedures developed by the Society for Industrial and developed by the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology (SIOP – 1987) for a more specified Organizational Psychology (SIOP – 1987) for a more specified purposepurpose


A significant event in clarifying the place of A significant event in clarifying the place of testing in modern society was the testing in modern society was the publication of publication of Ability Testing: Uses, Ability Testing: Uses, Consequences, and ControversiesConsequences, and Controversies (Wigdor (Wigdor and Garner, 1982).and Garner, 1982).

This two-volume book is the final report of a This two-volume book is the final report of a four-year project that examined the use of four-year project that examined the use of standardized ability tests in schools, in standardized ability tests in schools, in admission to higher education, and in admission to higher education, and in employment testing.employment testing.


Board on Testing and Assessment Board on Testing and Assessment (BoTA)(BoTA) Established in 1993 with the support of the Established in 1993 with the support of the

US departments of Defense, Education, and US departments of Defense, Education, and LaborLabor

Its main objective are to help policy makers Its main objective are to help policy makers understand and evaluate tests and other understand and evaluate tests and other appraisal instruments used as tools of public appraisal instruments used as tools of public policy.policy.

User Qualifications and User Qualifications and Professional CompetenceProfessional Competence

The The Ethics Code Ethics Code principle on competence principle on competence states that psychologists “provide only those states that psychologists “provide only those services and use only those techniques for services and use only those techniques for which they are qualified by education, training, which they are qualified by education, training, or experience.”or experience.”

The requirement that they be used only by The requirement that they be used only by appropriate qualified examiners is one step appropriate qualified examiners is one step toward protecting the test taker against the toward protecting the test taker against the improper use of tests.improper use of tests.


Thus, a relatively long period intensive training Thus, a relatively long period intensive training and supervised experience is required for the and supervised experience is required for the proper use of individual intelligence tests and proper use of individual intelligence tests and most personality tests, whereas mush less most personality tests, whereas mush less specified psychological training is needed for specified psychological training is needed for tests of educational achievement or job tests of educational achievement or job proficiency.proficiency.

It should be noted that students who take tests It should be noted that students who take tests in class for instructional purposes are not in class for instructional purposes are not usually equipped to administer the tests to usually equipped to administer the tests to others or interpret the scores properly.others or interpret the scores properly.


Well-trained examiners choose tests that are Well-trained examiners choose tests that are appropriate for both the particular purpose for appropriate for both the particular purpose for which they are testing and the persons to be which they are testing and the persons to be examined. examined.

In administering the test, they are sensitive the In administering the test, they are sensitive the many conditions that may affect test many conditions that may affect test performance.performance.

They draw conclusions or make They draw conclusions or make recommendations only after considering the recommendations only after considering the test score (or scores) in the light of other test score (or scores) in the light of other pertinent information about the individual.pertinent information about the individual.


Above all, they should be sufficiently knowledgeable Above all, they should be sufficiently knowledgeable about the science of human behavior to guard about the science of human behavior to guard against unwarranted inferences in their against unwarranted inferences in their interpretations of test scores.interpretations of test scores.

When tests are administered by psychological When tests are administered by psychological assistants, or by persons who lack professional assistants, or by persons who lack professional training in psychometric principles and proper training in psychometric principles and proper assessment practices, it is essential that adequately assessment practices, it is essential that adequately qualified psychologist be available, at least as a qualified psychologist be available, at least as a consultant, to provide the needed perspective for a consultant, to provide the needed perspective for a proper interpretation of the test score.proper interpretation of the test score.


Who is a qualified psychologist?Who is a qualified psychologist? Obviously, with the diversification of the Obviously, with the diversification of the

discipline and the consequent specialization of discipline and the consequent specialization of training, no psychologist is equally qualified in training, no psychologist is equally qualified in all areas, even within the narrower field of all areas, even within the narrower field of psychological testing and assessment.psychological testing and assessment.

In recognition to this fact, the In recognition to this fact, the Ethics CodeEthics Code calls calls for psychologists to “recognize the boundaries for psychologists to “recognize the boundaries of their particular competencies and the of their particular competencies and the limitations of their expertise.”limitations of their expertise.”


A significant step, both in upgrading A significant step, both in upgrading professional standards and in helping the professional standards and in helping the public to identify qualified psychologists, was public to identify qualified psychologists, was the enactment of state licensing and the enactment of state licensing and certification laws for psychologists.certification laws for psychologists.

Although the terms “licensing” and Although the terms “licensing” and “certification” are often used interchangeably, “certification” are often used interchangeably, in psychology…in psychology… Certification typically refers to legal protection of the Certification typically refers to legal protection of the

title “psychologist”; whereastitle “psychologist”; whereas Licensing controls the practice of psychology Licensing controls the practice of psychology

regardless of the title by which the practitioner is regardless of the title by which the practitioner is identified.identified.


In either type, the requirements are generally a In either type, the requirements are generally a doctorate in psychology, a specified amount of doctorate in psychology, a specified amount of supervised experience, an satisfactory supervised experience, an satisfactory performance on a qualifying exam.performance on a qualifying exam.

Licensing statutes typically include grounds for Licensing statutes typically include grounds for disciplinary actions against psychologists, disciplinary actions against psychologists, which can range from fines and reprimands to which can range from fines and reprimands to the suspension and revocation of the license.the suspension and revocation of the license.

Responsibilities of Test Responsibilities of Test PublishersPublishers

The purchase of tests is generally The purchase of tests is generally restricted to persons who meet certain restricted to persons who meet certain minimal qualifications. Catalogs of major minimal qualifications. Catalogs of major test publishers specify requirements that test publishers specify requirements that must be met by purchasers. must be met by purchasers.

Usually, individuals with a master’s Usually, individuals with a master’s degree in psychology or its equivalent degree in psychology or its equivalent qualify.qualify.


Some publishers classify their tests into Some publishers classify their tests into levels with reference to user levels with reference to user qualifications, ranging from educational qualifications, ranging from educational achievement to vocational proficiency achievement to vocational proficiency tests, through group intelligence tests tests, through group intelligence tests and interest inventories, to such clinical and interest inventories, to such clinical instruments as individual intelligence instruments as individual intelligence tests and most personality tests.tests and most personality tests.


Graduate students who may need a Graduate students who may need a particular test for a class assignment or particular test for a class assignment or for research must have the purchase for research must have the purchase order countersigned by the psychology order countersigned by the psychology professor, who assumes responsibility for professor, who assumes responsibility for the proper use of the test.the proper use of the test.


Efforts to restrict the distribution of tests have a Efforts to restrict the distribution of tests have a dual objective: security of test materials and dual objective: security of test materials and prevention of misuse. prevention of misuse.

It should be noted, however, that while test It should be noted, however, that while test distributors may make sincere efforts to distributors may make sincere efforts to implement these objectives, the control they implement these objectives, the control they may be able to exert is necessarily limited.may be able to exert is necessarily limited.

In some cases, it may not be feasible to In some cases, it may not be feasible to investigate and verify the alleged qualifications investigate and verify the alleged qualifications of purchasers.of purchasers.


Moreover, the formal qualifications provide only Moreover, the formal qualifications provide only a rough screening device. For instance, an MA a rough screening device. For instance, an MA or PhD do not necessarily signify that the or PhD do not necessarily signify that the individual is qualified to use a particular test or individual is qualified to use a particular test or that his or her training is relevant to the proper that his or her training is relevant to the proper interpretation of the results obtained with the interpretation of the results obtained with the test.test.

The major responsibility for the proper use of The major responsibility for the proper use of tests ultimately resides in the individual user or tests ultimately resides in the individual user or institution concerned.institution concerned.


Documents

Ethical and Social Considerations in Testing Jemellene Baluyot Department of Behavioral Sciences University of the Philippines Manila